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Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law a $150 annual wildfire protection fee for property owners in rural areas of California. The Democratic governor announced that he signed the bill, ABX1-29, to ensure rural property owners pay their share of the state's wildland firefighting costs, citing it is essentially a fee for service. Brown's finance spokesman, said the fee is appropriate because the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides an added benefit to rural property owners by attacking wildfires before they reach residential areas.

On Sunday, the Swiss will vote in a referendum to decide whether states should appoint special attorneys to represent animals in court. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, Zurich's animal-rights lawyer, Antoine Goetschel, speaks about the job, the vote's chances of success and why eco-friendly Switzerland needs even more animal-protection laws.

"This isn't about a mass execution of dogs," Nemitz said. "It's meant to put pressure on people who don't cooperate."

Canadian Grants for Property Owners – Are You among the Top 10 Advantage Takers?

It is a general view that Canadian housing and property grants are beneficial only for the first-time home buyers. The fact is that there are many other categories of home and property owners who can take advantage of these government loans. By extending this financial help, the governments in various parts of Canada have made life easier and more comfortable for different homeowners. Go through the top 10 homeowner types who can make the best out of these grants; a list you will find nowhere else

Dog owners who haven't renewed their pet's license should expect a knock on their door next week. Deputies will first check residences of dog owners who have not renewed their pet's licenses for 2012 and then conduct checks on an individual street basis. All dogs age three months or older must be licensed. Licenses must be renewed annually between the first Monday in December and January 31

Cash-strapped San Diego considers tax for cats! Cat owners say the idea defies logic and accounting principles.

An initiative to establish a new federal law known as “For an unconditional basic income” [fr] was formally introduced in Switzerland in April. The idea, which consists quite simply of giving a monthly income to all citizens that is neither means-tested nor work-related, has generated commentary throughout the Swiss blogosphere.

MD has designated pit bulls to be inherently dangerous. Shelters now have trouble adopting them out. People with pit bulls can't get homeowners insurance - non matter how gentle or well-trained their dogs are. In Belfast, the city seized a pit bull (http://www.savelennox.co.uk/) and won't return it.

The proposed law would also require owners of more than 10 firearms to secure them in a locked safe or vault and install an alarm system with central monitoring that would notify police when the alarm is activated.