AP news and Rueters are both reporting that Levine pulled AB1634 (the so called healthy pet bill) fearing it would fail in the Senate Local Government Committee.  During a hearing yesterday, most lawmakers said that they were unhappy with the proposal. Depending on which news story you read, Levine may have said that he plans to reintroduce the bill next year!

When Levine realized that there weren’t enough votes in the five-member committee to pass his measure, he suggested weakening it so that spaying and neutering would not be mandatory. Instead, he proposed that spaying and neutering would only be required if a dog or cat was running free or a complaint was lodged against an animal owner.

“If in violation of other animal laws, you have to spay and neuter,” Levine said in describing his proposed change.

But both GOP lawmakers on the committee appeared unwilling to vote for the bill even with the amendment. The committee chair—Sen. Gloria Negrete-McLeod, D-Chino (Riverside County)—also appeared to be opposed to the measure. Levine then said he would leave the bill in committee until next year.

From the San Francisco Chronicle

As the Vindu Goel from the Mercury News so cleverly stated, I hope Levine lets sleeping dogs lie.