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(11 <br />consent to the disposition of the animal." The proposal seeks to define what constitutes <br />"some proof of ownership." Even if the animal is found by the operator to be <br />unadoptable due to injury or defects in health or temperament, without a signed <br />consent by a person with "some proof of ownership," the shelter must hold that animal <br />for at least 72 hours. This is forcing shelter operators to hold animals found to be <br />unadoptable (such as feral cats). This is causing shelter operators in many counties to <br />turn away adoptable animals due to lack of shelter space, or euthanize animals with a <br />better opportunity to be adopted to free up space in the shelter — thereby failing to <br />"facilitate adoptions." According to county animal control officers, animal owners who <br />have lost their pets typically check with animal shelters long before the 72 -hour holding <br />period ends. The language of the initial proposal was amended significantly in order to <br />increase its opportunity for success in the Legislature, where attempts to alter the new <br />law could be met with significant resistance from animal rights interests. <br />• <br />• <br />