Jasper and California AB1965

 If you watch the Five, you know that former press secretary to President Bush, Dana Perino, has a pet dog named Jasper. If you follow California news you may know that AB 1965 has been passed and will go to the California Senate. The bill which should be called the Jasper Act, will allow restaurants across the state to allow dogs in their outdoor dining areas. Long overdue legislation in this poet's humble opinion and is welcomed to motivate the creation of a poem on a subject other than the chaos of world events and domestic politics, but with a subtle dig at California for its continuing job losses as companies mover to less regulated and lower taxed states like Texas.  Hope you enjoy it.

Jasper and California AB 1965

California has always been on the cutting edge of technology and the arts

Even as its taxes and regulations are causing companies to depart

At last we have heard the alarms when Toyota to Texas leaves

Film companies lured by tax credits to film elsewhere while our FTB seethes

At last a bill has been in the Assembly passed to make us a Dog-Friendly State

No longer chained to the curb or in cars will our canine friends have to wait

While owners leisurely sip wines and dine on sumptuous fare

As disappointed and abandoned barks and howls fill the air

AB 1965 has in our Assembly just been passed to pet owners’ delight

No longer requires dogs to be kept away in a parked car out of sight

Dogs in outdoor dining areas may now with their owners dine

No more tails down, stressed out dogs with excluded howls and whines

Why is this bill important in ending the exodus of wealth to less regulated or taxed climes?

It will target the celebs famous for promoting the joys of having a canine

We all know one of the icons of the Five has Jasper as a pet

If he can enjoy dining here, New York City, Dana Perino will quickly forget

She will start the first trickle of wealth and creativity with canines moving into our state

Bringing job growth and more revenue to add to our fiscal plate

Only one catch on a quick glance to AB 1965 appears

That may muffle the ring of more dollars into the dining cashiers

It applies only to dogs but not to cats who would normally sit quietly on an owner’s lap

Maybe the reason is found in the video of Tara the cat fending off a canine attack,

Saving a boy from more stitches from vicious bites

Causing a much larger dog to run off in terrified flight

Life in California may be a jungle waiting for the next major quake

But soon dining outside also, surrounded by dogs, cats, parrots, lizards and snakes?

Designer pet tags and flea collars only from Rodeo Drive?

For Jasper and Dana, California Senate approve AB 1965

© May 15, 2014 Michael P. Ridley aka the Alaskanpoet