[ SHOWGSD-L ] Chicago Dog Law spreads like Wildfire
- From: "Peggy" <pmick12@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <Showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 20:46:58 -0400
shared by Peggy
Many Dog Owners Apathetic While Bob Barker
Brags That Ordinance 'Will Spread Like Wildfire'
by JOHN YATES
American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
<http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org/>
asda@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:asda@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
CHICAGO - A joint committee of Chicago City Council has delayed voting on a
proposed mandatory spay and neuter ordinance until September in order to
allow enough time for both sides to testify. More than four hours of
testimony was heard Tuesday, but the committees ran out of time before many
people could speak.
The September meeting date has not been set, but Finance Committee Chairman
Ed Burke (D-14th) said that everyone who has signed up to testify would get
a chance to speak. Aldermen Burke and Virginia Rugai (D-19th) are cosponsors
of the ordinance, which would require all dogs and cats to be spayed or
neutered at six months of age. The ordinance allows some exemptions for an
annual fee of $100 per dog or cat, but imposes strict limitations, and
subjects applicants to home inspections and criminal background checks for
every family member.
Thus far, 31 people have signed up to speak against the ordinance, compared
to 52 animal rights activists who will speak in favor of it.
Animal rights groups packed the meeting with supporters and brought in
speakers of national prominence, including Judy Mancuso and celebrity
television personality Bob Barker, who have been active in trying to get a
statewide pet sterilization law passed in their home state of California.
The head of the Illinois Chapter of the radical Humane Society of the United
States, Jordan Maytas, and Paula Faseas, founder of the elite and wealthy
PAWS rescue program in Chicago, also addressed Council in support of the
ordinance.
Mancuso and Barker are known for their emotional presentations that stir
audiences, and Barker received a standing ovation. Both are closely linked
to animal rights groups that want to eliminate animal ownership, farming of
animals and hunting.
In contrast, dog ownership advocates did not show up in force for the
meeting and were outnumbered by animal rights activists by a two-to-one
margin. About 100 animal rights activists attended the meeting, but only
about 50 people came to oppose the ordinance.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance and other organizations launched a
large-scale public information campaign in the weeks prior to the committee
meeting, but dog owners, cat owners and sportsmen simply did not turn out
for the meeting. National research suggests that there are more than 300,000
dog owners in Chicago.
Apathy has plagued advocates for dog ownership since the beginning of the
animal rights push several years ago. This has caused animal rights
legislation to advance in California, Pennsylvania and other states, and a
spay/neuter mandate to be passed into law in Dallas this past June.
Polls show clearly that a vast majority of ordinary Americans oppose
mandatory pet sterilization. Polls showing overwhelming opposition to
spay/neuter mandates this year were sponsored by Parade Magazine, MSN/NBC,
California newspapers and, just this week, by the Chicago Tribune. At this
writing, 70 percent of the 8,768 participants in the Chicago poll had voiced
opposition to the proposed ordinance.
While opposition to these kinds of laws has consistently been overwhelming,
animal ownership advocates also have shown a strong tendency to shun
involvement in the political process that can either defend their rights or
take them away.
Barker, interviewed after the meeting, said the goal of animal rights groups
is to use a Chicago ordinance as a springboard to passing similar ordinances
in other cities, and also to pass a statewide spay/neuter mandate in
Illinois.
"If you pass this ordinance here there will be cities all over the Midwest
and coasts that will pass this as well, and we really need this
legislation," Barker said. ".It will spread like wildfire."
With the bitter lesson of Dallas in mind, the American Sporting Dog Alliance
emphatically urges dog owners and professionals, sportsmen and farmers to
get involved now. We are asking these people to write letters to elected
officials, attend meetings, speak out, write letters to the editor, network
with other dog owners, participate in message boards and to join at least
one of the several fine organizations that are fighting for your rights.
Opponents of the Chicago ordinance who testified Tuesday did an excellent
job of delivering the facts, although perhaps some of them lacked the
charisma of the public relations pros and TV stars from California.
Very effective oral and written testimony in opposition to the ordinance was
presented by the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association, and the
1,000-member Chicago Veterinary Medical Association. Both groups of
veterinarians came out strongly against the ordinance.
"Although the ordinance¹s stated goals to reduce the number of unwanted pets
and gang activity are laudable, the reality is that it (the ordinance) will
have no effect on these problems. Instead, it will create some serious
public health concerns, cause many animals to be denied necessary health
care, and will trample on the personal property rights of conscientious pet
owners," Dr. Steve Dullard, ISVMA Legislative Committee Chair, told the
aldermen.
"The idea that mandatory spay/neuter will change a gangbanger's behavior or
that dog bite injuries will vanish is absurd," he said. Those are two
reasons that Burke and Rugai cite as justifications for the ordinance.
Barker said that all that the veterinarians care about is money, and Mancuso
dismissed the medical testimony by claiming that most rank and file
veterinarians favor the ordinance.
Dr. Shannon Greeley, speaking for the Chicago veterinarians, said the entire
membership of CVMA is opposed to the ordinance, not just the board. Greeley
testified that the problems with the ordinance could have been avoided if
City Council had asked veterinarians to participate in the planning
process..
Some aldermen left the room when the veterinarians were testifying, and
Alderman Michele Harris suggested that the veterinarians were merely piqued
because they were not involved in planning the ordinance.
Dr. Greeley said the issue is not simply that veterinarians were offended.
She said the real issue is that veterinarians have the expertise and
experience to help council create workable programs.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which
operates many animal shelters around the country, also is opposed to
mandatory pet sterilization, Dr. Greeley said.
Here is the ASPCA's position statement: "The ASPCA supports programs that
provide incentives to the public to spay or neuter their companion animals.
The ASPCA does not support local laws that mandate the sterilization of all
cats and dogs."
Steve Dale, a local animal behavioral consultant and radio talk show host,
countered the inaccurate assertions in Barker's and Mancuso's testimony..
Dale said similar ordinances have failed everywhere they have been tried.
Most recently, he said, the Greeley, Colorado, animal control director told
him that a new ordinance there was a complete failure.
Other speakers questioned the city's ability to pay for enforcing the
ordinance. Before the hearing on the ordinance, the aldermen were informed
that the City of Chicago has a projected $4.6 million budget shortfall this
year and will have to lay off employees.
Chicago Animal Care and Control Executive Director Sandra Alfred spoke in
favor of the ordinance, but questioned the city's ability to pay for
enforcement.
Several aldermen expressed other kinds of reservations about the ordinance.
"We can't even enforce the licensing of our dogs in the city," said Alderman
Bob Fioretti (D-2). He said that he doubts 10-percent of the dogs in the
city are licensed, because people know that the city does not have the
manpower to do the job.
Alderman Ray Suarez (31st), said it is another example of government
interference in private lives. Alderman Freddrenna Lyle (6th) expressed
concern that under the ordinance she wouldn't be able to mate her Lhasa apso
with another cute dog unless she obtained a breeders license.
What You Can Do To Help
Please contact local organizers to coordinate your participation and plug
into what we are doing. They are Karen Perry ( ouilmette4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:ouilmette4@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> ), Margo Milde ( mrm1206@xxxxxxxxx
<mailto:mrm1206@xxxxxxxxx> ) and Michele Smith ( msmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:msmith@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ).
It is very important for dog owners to contact City Council members before
the September committee meeting. This ordinance can be stopped if strong
opposition arises from every neighborhood in Chicago, and from all segments
of the dog community. Letters sent to the aldermen by surface mail are the
most effective, followed by faxes and phone calls. Emails are the least
effective. Even if they are brief, personal letters are much more effective
than form letters.
Here is a link to the web pages of each of the aldermen, where you will find
contact information:
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalProgramAction.do?programI
d=536879154&channelId=-536879035&topChannelName=Government
<http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalProgramAction.do?program
Id=536879154&channelId=-536879035&topChannelName=Government> .
Here is a link to City Council Committees:
http://www.chicityclerk.com/standingcommettee.php
<http://www.chicityclerk.com/standingcommettee.php> . Tuesday's meeting will
involve both the Committee on Finance and the Committee on License and
Consumer Protection. This web page gives links to each committee member.
Next, please contact your friends and members and officers of any clubs or
organizations you belong to that can help. These include dog clubs,
sportsmen's clubs, farmers' groups and firearms rights organizations.
Hunters, farmers and firearms enthusiasts know that these kinds of laws stem
from animal rights groups that also want to eliminate hunting, raising
animals for food and the right to keep and bear arms.
In addition, please join a dog owners' rights advocacy organization that
reflects your personal concerns and priorities.
The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, hobby breeders and
professionals who work with breeds of dogs that are used for hunting. We are
a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog owners, and to
assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and humans maintains
its rightful place in American society and life. Please visit us on the web
at http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
<http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org/> or contact us at
asda@xxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:asda@xxxxxxxxxxxx> .
The American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can
continue to work to protect the rights of dog owners. Your membership,
participation and support are truly essential to the success of our
mission..
We are funded solely by the donations of our members, and maintain strict
independence.
PLEASE CROSS-POST AND FORWARD THIS REPORT
Have You Joined Yet?
The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.americansportingdogalliance.org
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