Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) is once again expressing disappointment that her bill, Senate Bill 89, did not move forward from the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Despite two Republicans supporting the bill, all Democrats abstained from voting, which ultimately led to the bill being defeated.
SB 89 is intended to update California's anti-stalking law in order to offer improved protections for stalking victims and their pets. The Assembly Public Safety Committee had initially agreed to collaborate with Senator Ochoa Bogh during the interim under the leadership of Assemblymember Jones Sawyer. However, when Assemblymember McCarty took over as committee Chairman, discussions came to a standstill, and no new solutions were put forward.
“California's current law does not acknowledge the significant impact that threats or injuries to beloved pets have on stalking victims. By failing to update our state stalking statute, we leave victims and their innocent pets vulnerable to stalking threats and attacks,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “It baffles me that even with new committee membership, the committee couldn't take action to protect our beloved pets.”
Stalking poses a significant threat to the emotional and physical well-being of victims, including their beloved pets. Stalkers often target pets as a means to intimidate, harass, or send threatening messages to their victims. An estimated one in three women (31.2%) and one in six men (16.1%) in the United States report enduring stalking at some point in their lives while one in 15 women (8.6 million) and one in 24 men (4.8 million) in the United States report being stalked in last 12 months. Stalking behaviors may be committed in person, by following the victim, or by monitoring and harassing the victim electronically. It is a crime of power and control that causes victims to fear for their safety, or the safety of their loved ones.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, perpetrators of stalking tend to damage their victim’s property including pets in order to manipulate them. One National Crime Victimization Survey estimated that four in 10 stalkers threaten a “victim or the victim’s family, friends, co-workers, or family pet,” with 87,020 threats to harm a pet being reported.
To deter stalking activity, SB 89 would have made it a “wobbler” that can be charged as a misdemeanor – or in very egregious cases, a felony - for engaging in conduct with the intent to harm, intimidate, or place under surveillance another person, their family members, or their pets. The bill aimed to address the gaps in current state law by aligning protections for their cherished animal partners with protections available to immediate family members. Stalkers exploit the strong emotional bonds between humans and their pets in order to send a strong message to victims about their own helplessness.
Senator Ochoa Bogh remains committed to advocating for the safety and protection of stalking victims and their pets. She will continue to work toward updating California's anti-stalking laws, recognizing the importance of safeguarding victims and their pets from stalking threats and attacks.
Organizations in support of SB 89:
- American Association of University Women
- California American Association of University Women
- San Jose American Kennel Club, INC.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- California District Attorneys Association
- California Police Chiefs Association
- Crime Victims Alliance
- Crime Victims United
- Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
- Peace Officers Research Association of California
- Riverside County District Attorney
- Social Compassion in Legislation