Animal advocates blast Gov. Brown for ‘putting pets on death row’

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Sure, Gov. Jerry Brown has slashed funding for social welfare programs and public universities by billions, but now, some say he’s gone too far -- he’s targeting pets.

Brown has proposed repealing the Hayden Law, named after former Democratic state Sen. Tom Hayden, which gives animals more time in shelters before they are euthanized.

Brown said shortening the time that sherlters must hold strays from six days to three would save the state about $46 million per year.

Hayden criticized Brown -- who with his wife, Anne, owns a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Sutter -- for suggesting the repeal. In an online video, he urged Brown to to ‘look at your dog before you allow this bill that protects animals to die.’

Animal rights groups have followed. The latest, a group of self-proclaimed ‘cat advocates’ called the Stray Cat Alliance criticized Brown for “putting pets on death row.” Brown spokesman Gil Duran said local animal shelters were free to hold pets as long as they want before euthanizing them, but that ‘the state just can’t pay them back any longer. Many tough cuts are being made –- to the elderly, to children, to the poor.’

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-- Anthony York in Sacramento