The California state spay/neuter license plate may be awaiting its own euthanasia if its supporters, including voting citizens, aren’t proactive about ordering them. A new assembly bill has been unanimously approved by both the Senate and Assembly, but there is no guarantee that the governor will sign it.

Nearly two years ago, we posted an article describing the newly conceived plate designed by actor and environmentalist Pierce Brosnan. The plate’s conception came from Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL) and its president, Judie Mancuso, who is one of the most tireless advocates of pets and legislation to improve their lives. The plate is supported by a number of animal-advocacy organizations, such as ASPCA, Best Friends, HSUS and PETA.

The proceeds from the plate will generate additional funding for low- and no-cost spay/neuter surgeries throughout California and will be another tool to stem pet overpopulation and the euthanizing of millions of unwanted pets in state shelters.

The current law states that in order to get a DMV specialty license plate into production, there must be a state agency that will sponsor the plate and 7,500 of them must be preordered The state’s Veterinary Medical Board is sponsoring the new license plates, but so far as of this writing, 4,500 preordered plates and over $278,000 have been collected, and there’s a shortfall of fewer than 2,500 orders.

AB 610, authored by Assemblyman Jose Solorio, grants a one-year extension to the plate sales. This is a reasonable request, and there will be no additional cost to the state. Furthermore, there will be a greater chance to get the necessary preorders and thus fund the needed surgeries, saving the government money as fewer unwanted animals will be euthanized in the shelters.

It’s urgent that you contact the governor’s office to sign the bill, as the unanimous votes on both sides—71–0 in the Assembly and 38–0 in the Senate—are no guarantee that the governor will sign it. We’re asking all of you who have ordered or are planning to order (and do it, quick!) the plate to voice your support of the bill and the plate itself to Gov. Brown by letter, by phone, or through his website (very easy). Use the following information:

Governor Jerry Brown
c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 558-3160

His website is accessible here.

We’re planning to run this plea at the end of every article we post until there are enough plates preordered. Then, those of us who care about animals and want to spread the word about spay/neuter can do it California style.
For plate orders and further information, visit the plate’s site here.