SACRAMENTO, CA — Legislation to help animals rescued from abuse get out of shelters and into safe homes faster has passed the California Legislature and is headed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (D–San Francisco) AB 2344, the Rehome Abused Animals Act, would streamline the forfeiture process for animals involved in abuse cases so they do not have to spend months or even years in shelters while court cases drag on.
“Animals are completely dependent on us for care and protection, and when that trust is shattered through abuse, we have a moral obligation to act,” said Assemblymember Haney. “Animal cruelty is unacceptable and when animals are held for unnecessary periods, this puts a roadblock to their recovery. AB 2344 will streamline that transfer process, providing a tool for courts and shelters to help animals receive earlier transfers into appropriate care.”
Long shelter stays can take a serious physical and behavioral toll on animals, while also taking up limited shelter space and resources. AB 2344 would expand the process courts can use to determine whether rescued animals should be forfeited, allowing them to move into appropriate care sooner while preserving due process protections.
“Assembly Bill 2344 would help protect animals from continued abuse and neglect before more harm is done,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “People accused of serious animal cruelty should not be allowed to keep control of abused animals while a case slowly moves through the court system. … Animal cruelty is deliberate violence against living beings, and offenders who commit these acts must be held fully accountable.”
“Animals rescued from abuse should not be forced to spend months or even years languishing in shelters while criminal cases slowly move through the courts,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and President of Social Compassion in Legislation, a cosponsor of the bill. “AB 2344 creates a clear pathway for prosecutors to seek forfeiture so these animals can finally leave behind the trauma they endured and begin healing in safe, loving homes. After everything they have suffered, they deserve stability, compassion, and a chance at a new life as quickly as possible.”
AB 2344 would help reduce lengthy shelter stays and overcrowding while giving animals rescued from abuse a faster path to recovery and permanent homes.
The bill now heads to Governor Newsom for his signature.
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