A California Senate bill was signed into law in August which is set to waive all pet adoption fees for veterans from animal shelters, including the county shelter in the Santa Clarita Valley, officials said Tuesday.

SB 245, the “Pets for Vets Act” authored by Ling Ling Chang, R-Diamond Bar, was signed into law on Aug. 30 by Governor Gavin Newsom and is set to allow veterans to adopt a cat or dog with no fees, according to the legislation.

This bill would prohibit a public animal shelter, such as the Los Angeles County Castaic Animal Care Center, from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the animal presents a valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “veteran” printed on its face, according to officials.

“That is a bonus to vets,” said Bill Reynolds, KHTS’ director of veterans affairs. “Vets do deserve it, considering having a pet can make their lives a little more comfortable and easy.”

California is home to 2 million military veterans, including many who struggle with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a companion animal could be beneficial with their recovery efforts, according to the author.

Although the bill waives adoption fees, additional costs such as licensing and microchipping may apply with more details to come in the following weeks, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control.

The bill also would authorize a public animal shelter to limit the number of dogs and cats adopted from that shelter by an eligible veteran to one dog and cat in a six-month period.

The law is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, according to Chang’s office.

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