top of page
All Actions
ACT NOW: Fix the Root Causes: Breeder Accountability & Shelter Relief Now
Dear Friends, ACTION NEEDED NOW: Help Us Secure a Bill Author by February 20, 2026 Multiple legislators support this bill — but without a lead author, it cannot move forward. Please Call or Email your legislator today and ask them to author the bill. California’s animal crisis is not slowing down — it is accelerating . And right now, we have a narrow but powerful opportunity to change its course. In the coming days, legislators across the state are finalizing their 2026 priorJan 44 min read
ACT NOW: Your Voice Matters: Help Reintroduce Shelter Transparency Bill
Deadline to Secure an Author: February 20 Dear ARFC Supporters, Rescues, Volunteers, and Animal Advocates, We urgently need your help. In the last legislative session (2024–25), Shelter Transparency legislation (AB 631) passed the entire California Assembly unanimously — 72 Assemblymembers voted YES, with zero opposition . Despite this overwhelming support, the bill stalled in the Senate and did not become law. Now, as we work to reintroduce AB 631 for 2026 , we are facingJan 42 min read
ACT NOW: California Needs a Spay/Neuter Prevention Fund
Deadline to Introduce Bills: February 20 California’s animal crisis is escalating — and we have a short, critical window to stop it at the source. Across the state, shelters are overflowing, rescues are stretched beyond capacity, and adoptable animals are being euthanized simply because there is nowhere left to put them. This is not a failure of compassion — it is a failure of prevention . Right now, California spends over $460 million every year operating approximately 153Jan 42 min read
ACT NOW: California's Animals Need Your Voice - Support Bowie's Law (AB 1482)!
Shelters across California are in crisis. They’re overcrowded, underfunded, and euthanizing healthy animals simply because there’s no space. Meanwhile, unregulated backyard breeding continues to flood our communities with more puppies, many of whom end up abandoned. The lack of regulation against backyard breeding directly contributes to overcrowding in California. Despite repeated attempts to pass bills addressing this issue, such as AB702 in 2021-22, AB2425 in 2023-24 pressMar 2, 20251 min read
ACT NOW: Mandatory Spay-Neuter Legislation
California currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest homeless animal population and euthanasia rates in the United States. Euthanasia rates growth over the past three years in California averages 4-25 % . The alarming euthanasia rates in some shelters, reaching as high as 32% and even a staggering 57% are deeply concerning. Most animals entering municipal shelters are strays that were dumped/abandoned. The majority( over 90 %) are Not Neutered and NotMay 5, 20242 min read
ACT NOW: Mandatory Animal Identification and Registration
California currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the Highest homeless animal population and euthanasia rates in the United States. This is not a ranking to be proud of. Most animals entering municipal shelters are strays that were dumped/abandoned. The majority( over 90 %) are Not Neutered and Not Microchipped and it is not possible to locate their origin. Due to the increase in backyard breeding, many “designer” dogs are ending up at shelters as well: such asMay 5, 20242 min read
ACT NOW: California Needs Stricter Illegal Breeders Laws and Regulations
The lack of regulation against backyard breeding directly contributes to overcrowding in California. Despite repeated attempts to pass bills addressing this issue, such as AB702 in 2021, AB2425 in 2024 pressure from lobbyists has caused these efforts to fail. It’s imperative that we rally public support to rebrand and reintroduce such bills to regulate and enforce backyard breeding, a major contributor to the state’s pet overpopulation crisis. We must stand behind congressmenMay 5, 20241 min read
ACT NOW: Online Animal Sales Regulations: Have to be passed by Congress
Social Media Sellers Ban, Online Sales Regulations Have to be passed by Congress Seek clearer guidelines on social media platforms to prevent unauthorized animal sales. Currently Social Media Platforms (facebook, Instagram, Craigslist) are full of animal sales disguised as “Adoptions of puppies’. Animal organizations continue to struggle with over-capacity status and urgently need community support to hold not only backyard breeders accountable, but also require social mediaMar 3, 20244 min read
ACT NOW: Centralized Direct State Funding to Provide Spay-Neuter Access to Communities
Communities across California are currently facing an escalating dog and cat overpopulation crisis. And it doesn’t appear that the problem will disappear anytime soon. The situation in State run Animal Shelters is catastrophic. Since 2021 shelters intakes keep growing by thousands of unwanted animals. About 450,000 animals entered the California shelter system in 2023. Shelters Pet euthanasia is at 3 year high. California currently has the highest municipal shelter euthanasMar 3, 20248 min read
Important:
When Public Animal Services Become Charity
The Dangerous Shift Happening Inside American Shelter Systems A growing question is emerging across animal welfare systems in the United States: At what point does a public service stop functioning as public infrastructure and begin operating like a charity project? That question is becoming increasingly relevant in Los Angeles, where the proposed 2026 animal services budget has triggered concern among rescuers, advocates, and community members nationwide. According to recent
May 143 min read
When Shelters Stop Taking Animals: The Crisis Behind the Numbers
California does not appear to have a single officially maintained statewide count of only “public municipal shelters,” partly because systems vary widely: city-run shelters, county shelters, joint powers authority shelters, contracted humane societies, nonprofit-operated municipal contracts, and open-admission vs limited-admission systems. However, the most commonly referenced estimates suggest: roughly 250–330 physical shelter facilities operate in California overall, depend
May 14 min read
San Jose’s Spay/Neuter Gap Is Shifting the Burden to Residents and Rescues
ARFC reviewed available shelter data, public records, historical trends, and community-reported concerns as part of this analysis. What emerged should concern residents, rescuers, volunteers, taxpayers, policymakers, and city leadership alike. The findings point to a significant shift within San José’s animal services system: reduced prevention resources, increasingly limited shelter intake, and growing responsibility placed on residents, animal finders, and nonprofit rescue
Apr 306 min read
ACT NOW: San Jose's Animal Crisis Is Exploding--Stop Illegal Breeding Now!
The Crisis We Can’t Ignore San José is in the middle of a growing animal welfare crisis — one that is entirely preventable. Every day, unregulated and illegal backyard breeders add to severe overpopulation, overcrowded shelters, and rising euthanasia rates. This is not an accident. It is the direct result of the City’s failure to regulate breeding. The Truth San José’s shelter is now so overwhelmed that it routinely declines accepting found animals from the public. When a munFeb 82 min read
ACT NOW: Fix San Jose - Restore Spay/Neuter & TNR Access Now
Santa Clara County, one of California’s most densely populated regions with 1.86 million residents, is in the midst of an avoidable animal overpopulation crisis. Yet in 2024, San Jose, the county’s largest city, allocated just $2,400 toward public spay/neuter and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs—out of a $5 billion city budget. To make matters worse, Santa Clara County’s overall $12.5 billion budget offers almost no dedicated funding for public spay/neuter or TNR services eiFeb 12 min read
ACT NOW: Create a Community Action Committee for San Jose's Animals in Crisis
San Jose is facing a worsening animal welfare crisis. Shelters are overcrowded, illegal breeding is increasing, spay/neuter access is limited, and small rescues are overwhelmed. Despite thousands of residents speaking out in 2024, the City has not created the Community Action Committee it publicly promised for January 2025. Instead, the City has offered only informal, undocumented conversations—no structure, no transparency, and no follow-through. Without a real committee, mDec 7, 20251 min read
ACT NOW: Mandatory Animal Identification and Registration in San Jose
California currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the Highest homeless animal population and euthanasia rates in the United States. This is not a ranking to be proud of. Most animals entering municipal shelters are strays that were dumped/abandoned. The majority( over 90 %) are Not Neutered and Not Microchipped and it is not possible to locate their origin. Due to the increase in backyard breeding, many “designer” dogs are ending up at shelters as well: such asAug 4, 20242 min read
ACT NOW: Mandatory Spay-Neuter Legislation in San Jose
California currently holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest homeless animal population and euthanasia rates in the United States. Euthanasia rates growth over the past three years in California averages 4-25 % . The alarming euthanasia rates in some shelters, reaching as high as 32% and even a staggering 57% are deeply concerning. Most animals entering municipal shelters are strays that were dumped/abandoned. The majority( over 90 %) are Not Neutered and NotAug 4, 20242 min read
ACT NOW: Open Letter to the Governor and California Legislature, A State in Crisis
Help Us Demand Action on California’s Animal Overpopulation Crisis Thousands of healthy, adoptable animals are being abandoned, turned away, or quietly euthanized in California shelters every week. While rescues scramble to save lives with limited resources, our state — the wealthiest in the country — continues to ignore a growing crisis. This Open Letter is a direct appeal to the Governor and California Legislature, calling for bold action to address the heartbreaking realitApr 6, 20254 min read
ACT NOW: Establish a Long Overdue California Spay Neuter Fund!
California’s pet overpopulation crisis is at a breaking point. With the highest municipal shelter euthanasia rate with an average of 17% over three years—twice the national rate and highest homeless animal population in the U.S. Overwhelmed shelters are forced to euthanize healthy, adoptable animals for space. Many can no longer accept found animals, leaving pets to survive on the streets. It’s clear: prevention, not reactive measures, is essential.Dec 1, 20246 min read
ACT NOW: Support Shelter Transparency Bill AB 631
Because Accountability Shouldn’t Be Optional California is in the middle of an animal sheltering crisis. Shelters are overwhelmed, animals are being turned away, and communities are left in the dark. Shockingly, there is no legal requirement for publicly funded shelters to report even basic information about the animals in their care —including how many are taken in, adopted, returned to their families, or die in the system. The Shelter Transparency Bill aims to change thatMar 2, 20252 min read
ACT NOW: San José: Rebuild Spay-Neuter / TNR Access For Public
Santa Clara County—one of California’s most populous regions with 1.86 million residents—is facing an avoidable animal overpopulation crisis. Yet San José, the largest city in the county, spent just $2,400 on public spay/neuter in 2024. That’s out of a $5 billion city budget—while Santa Clara County’s overall budget totals $12.5 billion, the allocations for public Spay-Neuter and Trap-Neuter Release (TNR) support are close to non-existent either. San José dismantled its entirMar 2, 20252 min read
ACT NOW: State Budget Request to Establish a CA Spay Neuter Fund
California leads the nation in homeless animal intakes and euthanasia levels. Municipal shelters and rescue groups operate in crisis mode, while access to low-cost spay-neuter services and Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) support are terminated by Animal services in our communities. Historically California Budget Does not allocate State Funds towards Animal Shelters. The Proposed 2025-26 State Budget is $322 Billion. The current State Spending Plan Estimates a Surplus of $363 MilFeb 2, 20252 min read
ACT NOW: Task Force to Address the Critical Issue of Animal Shelter Overpopulation in San Jose
Across the United States, shelters are facing a crisis of overcrowding, and unfortunately, our community is no exception. San Jose and surrounding areas are experiencing a surge in the homeless animals population. It’s crucial that we come together to advocate for meaningful change within our local municipal shelter. Many changes are needed and will help improve the animals well being at the shelter as well as reduce the intake from illegal breeders and increase public spay-Aug 5, 20241 min read
ACT NOW: Reopen Public Spay-Neuter to San Jose Communities
San Jose Municipal shelter is full of animals and is over capacity to the point that they stopped accepting animals in need from the community, rescues are operating in crisis mode.. Animals are dumped in increasing numbers all around San Jose and surrounding areas, not neutered, often sick, hit by cars to the point that it is distressing to our communities. At the same time – vital public spay-neuter has been suspended since 2019 and has never resumed, in spite of multipleAug 4, 20241 min read
ACT NOW: Illegal Breeding Regulations for San Jose
The lack of regulation against backyard breeding is causing overcrowding, overpopulation, and increased euthanasia in California’s municipal shelters. Insufficient governance at federal, state and local levels allows these operations to avoid registration, worsening the problem. Proposed regulations of backyard breeders keep facing strong opposition. Request Elected Officials to introduce breeders regulations in our community.Apr 5, 20241 min read
ACT NOW: California Needs Common Sense Animal Breeders & Sellers Laws AB2425
Stopping Backyard breeders - Exposing the Hidden Problem Of Young Animals at Shelters. AB 2425 Animals: adoption, shelter overcrowding, and breeding Irresponsible dog breeders can cause hundreds of thousands of healthy dogs to be put to death each year. That irresponsible behavior known as backyard breeding is an amateur form of dog breeding that typically occurs at home, often without regard for a dog’s health. Because backyard breeding typically occurs within privateMar 4, 20248 min read
ACT NOW: 72 Hour Pet Euthanasia Legislation AB2265
The situation in State run Animal Shelters is catastrophic. Since 2021 shelters intakes keep growing by thousands of unwanted animals. About 450,000 animals entered the California shelter system in 2023. Shelters Pet euthanasia is at 3 year high. California currently has the highest municipal shelter euthanasia rates in the United States, reaching 17%, a three-year peak . [1] It is crucial to note that this data is alarmingly INCOMPLETE, as California DOES NOT require sheltMar 3, 20243 min read
bottom of page