When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the state budget recently, billions of dollars in cuts to education and social services made newspaper headlines. But few people noticed the budget suspended a 10-year-old law that gave dogs and cats extra time at shelters at the state’s expense.

The Hayden Act of 1998 required shelters to give dogs and cats six days instead of three before they’re eligible for euthanasia. The law, which also extended public hours at shelters, aimed to allow rescue groups as well as owners who’ve lost a pet more time to retrieve animals.

But in July, with the stroke of the governor’s pen, the state suspended payment and the extra three-day mandated reprieve for cats and dogs at shelters across the state.

The move is expected to save the state $24.6 million, said Department of Finance spokesperson H.D. Palmer.

Monica Nolan, Ventura County director of animal regulations, said the county’s only shelter will continue its longstanding policy of caring for dogs, cats and other animals past the six days the state had required, despite the loss in funds.

Nolan said her department submitted its budget to county officials before the state budget was passed and excluded reimbursement from the state for the extra shelter days.

So, for this fiscal year at least, the suspension will not affect the thousands of cats and dogs at the shelter in the Camarillo Airport, Nolan said.

She said the department’s goal is to operate a nokill shelter but that capacity at the shelter is often a “balancing act.” The shelter must place about 30 animals in homes each day in order to offset the number of new animals brought to the filled shelter daily.

“We do everything we can to . . . find them a home,” Nolan said.

All 10 cities in Ventura County contract with the animal regulations department to pick up and house stray animals. The department operates a transitional facility for animals in Simi Valley.

Nolan said although the loss of state money won’t impact Ventura County this year, it will affect shelters around the state and may result in more dogs and cats being put down sooner.

That won’t be the case for animals in Santa Barbara County shelters, said Michele Mickiewicz, spokesperson for the county’s Public Health Department.

She said shelters in Santa Maria, Lompoc and Santa Barbara will continue their practice of caring for dogs and cats six days or more even though the state no longer pays for it.

Last fiscal year in Ventura County, the Camarillo shelter cared for 6,900 dogs and 3,400 cats, Nolan said.

While owners reclaimed 1,600 dogs and 115 cats and others adopted 2,800 canines and 1,100 felines, the department had to put down 2,100 cats and 2,000 dogs last year, Nolan said.