Fans of PostSecret will be familiar with the format here—members, employees, and friends of PETA have been uploading stories about their companion animals and things they wish they'd done differently in taking care of them. Given the opportunity, I think we'd all make a few changes if we had a chance to go back and do more for members of the family—and this is often especially true of the animals we share our lives with. I can tell you, for instance, that (although I love every bit of her), I wish I'd been a hell of a lot more diligent about watching Princess Cuteyface's weight after she first showed up on my doorstep (she's a big, big girl). If you have a moment today, take some time to read people's confessions about their companion animals, and feel free to upload your own story. It makes for some intense reading.

The mandatory spay/neuter ordinance, which I was talking up this week on the blog, passed today at the Van Nuys City Council meeting with a 10-1 vote! There is still one more vote to take place next week which will finalize it, but the decision will be made based on simple majority. According to my colleagues in LA who were at the meeting, there were hundreds of people in attendance, including Bob Barker who spoke on the importance of spaying and neutering. Boo-ya!

A huge thank you to everyone who has helped push this historic bill into law.

The Los Angeles City Council has just announced that a meeting will be held on Friday morning to discuss a historic ordinance that would require virtually all dogs and cats in Los Angeles to be spayed or neutered. If you happen to live in L.A. and have an urge to whisper sweet words of encouragement into your council member’s ear, you can find his or her phone number at http://www.lacity.org/council.htm. Just let 'em know that you support the spay-neuter ordinance, and you’re hoping they will too. Council members love that sort of thing. You can also attend the meeting to show your support.

If you don’t live in L.A., there’s probably not all that much you can do about this particular bill, but at least you don’t have to deal with the lousy traffic conditions they have in that city. That’s gotta be worth something, right? There’s also tons of information about how you can help cats and dogs in your community right here. And to continue with a theme started earlier this week, here’s a criminally adorable pro spay/neuter spot, starring animated kittens.

Update: The California Healthy Pets Act has passed the Assembly, and is on its way to the State Senate Committee! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to push the bill this far — I’ll keep you updated on the Senate vote as it progresses.

California's Healthy Pets Act just got a lot more Hollywood support with a new celebrity-filled petition. Star Trek's Captain Kirk, Grey’s Anatomy hottie Katherine Heigl, Studio 60's Bradley Whitford, and CSI's Jorja Fox, along with Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling, director Richard Linklater, and more than a dozen other Hollywood stars, including Captain Kirk, have signed a PETA petition pledging support for Assembly Bill 1634—the California Healthy Pets Act—which mandates spay-neuter surgeries for cats and dogs. The bill is scheduled for a floor vote this week. Did I mention Captain Kirk signed the petition?!?! (I know it’s not the first time PETA's teamed up with The Captain, but it’s the first time I got to report on it. Thanks for understanding.)

This petition is just the latest act of celebrity support for the bill. In recent weeks funny guy Bill Maher recorded a “New Rule” supporting the bill and PETA released another PSA for the bill featuring Kevin Nealon, Mike White, Ami James, and other celebs.

It's not just celebrities who are coming out in support of this bill. The Healthy Pets Act has already gained support from hundreds of animal protection organizations, veterinarians, city police departments. The vote is coming up early this week and if you live in California the animals need your support. Please use our handy web form to contact your assembly person today. If you won’t do it for the animals’ sake, do it for The Captain.

Click the image below to view the full petition.

If you've seen Bill Maher's brilliant HBO show, Real Time With Bill Maher, you'll be familiar with his 'New Rules' segment, in which he lays down a few hilarious regulations for a better America that, if there were any justice in the world, would be codified into law on the spot. We're hoping that's exactly what happens with Maher's latest "New Rule," which is designed to help put a stop to the dumping of more than 800,000 unwanted animals in California animal shelters every year by encouraging the state's residents to support Assembly Bill 1634—the California Healthy Pets Act. As he says in the video,

“Unlike the catastrophes in this world we feel powerless to change—hurricanes, al Qaeda, Britney’s hair—you can do something about this. Have the balls to get your pet spayed or neutered.”

Check that bad boy out, then, if you live in California, click here for more information on how to contact your Assembly Member about turning this new rule into a state law.