[ SHOWGSD-L ] Fwd: [doglegislation] Dallas Alert !! MANDATORY spay/neuter bill
- From: Stormy435@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, GSDCALegislative@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:55:41 EDT
Begin forwarded message:
Fwd: [doglegislation] Dallas Alert !! MANDATORY spay/neuter bill
Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:56 pm (PDT)
Permission to crosspost
April 24, 2008
Dallas Quality of Life Committee Meeting Monday, the 28th!
Attorney Zandra Anderson, representing Texas Kennel Club, asks for your help
to back up Dallas residents who will attend the hearing. Speakers aren't
allowed so YOU are our only voice. Information from Zandra is below:
************************************
It is imperative to let your voices be heard! Fax, write letters, call,
email DAILY--the hearing is Monday! The most effective ways of communication
are faxes, letters, calls, emails (in that order). My suggestion is to do
all of them and particularly so if you are a Dallas constituent. The
committee members are listed at the bottom with all their contact
information.
Right now, these ordinances are being considered by the Quality of Life
Committee, NOT the full city council. YOU can make a difference because it
is this committee that will suggest any changes to the full council.
Revisions are being made. Nothing is a done deal. Always be polite and
positive!
Included below is a Nutshell of the proposed ordinances and Talking Points.
The Nutshell is designed to hit the main requirements of the proposals and
the Talking Points are suggestions for your letters and calls.
One major point that should be addressed and included in the subject line or
any phone calls:
I am OPPOSED to any kind of Mandatory Spay Neuter including Registration
for Competition Dogs/Cats.
Proposed Ordinances in a Nutshell (Mandatory Spay Neuter & Pet Limits)
(importantly, there is a draft of a version that makes some changes and I
will include that in the nutshell)
The proposed MSN Ordinances do the following:
--Require MSN at 4 mos. (6 mos. on draft revision)
--Require a Breeder Permit for each intact dog or cat which costs $500
--Breeder Permit only given out if Director of Animals Services approves
--Breeder Permit only given only IF dog/cat is registered with a recognized
registry approved by Director AND owner is member of a purebred club that
is approved by Director
--Breeder Permit only for a registry that has a code of ethics for breeding
that restricts breeding of dogs/cats with health problems and
genetic defects (not defined what these are)
--One litter per year (one year can have two litters if approved)
--All advertisement of puppies/kittens must display permit number
--Breeder must divulge the identity of the buyer of puppy within 5 days of
sale
--Breeder cannot sell until puppy is 8 weeks old & permit number must be on
receipt for sale
--Breeder cannot sell until puppies are immunized against common diseases
(not defined)
--Breeder has to provide the buyer with a written statement about the health
& immunization of puppies
--Failing to comply with this ordinance is an "offense" and the fine can be
up to $2000 (that is the fine for ordinance violations that affect the
health & safety of the public) and can get your animals impounded.
--Competition Dog /Cat Registration (Draft Revision only)--creates a defense
for not having a breeder permit IF the owner registers the dog/cat as a
competition animal AND the owner must file a sworn (notarized) statement
that the animal will NOT be bred until a Breeder Permit is obtained
--Competition Dog (Draft Revision only) is a pedigreed dog which is
registered with a registry approved by Director AND NOT used to breed AND
used to compete in confirmation, obedience, agility, carting, herding,
protection, rally, sporting, working or other event sponsored by a dog breed
registry referenced above. Hunting dogs are NOT included.
--Competition Cat (Draft Revisions only) is a pedigreed cat which is
registered with a registry approved by Director AND NOT used to breed AND
competes in cat shows or other competition events sponsored by a cat breed
registry referenced above.
The proposed Pet Limitation Ordinance in a Nutshell:
-- Allows for only six animals for people who live in homes that do not
share a common wall
-- The limit of four animals for people who live in homes that do not share
a common wall will not change (apartments, townhouses, etc.)
-- The limit can be increased IF person is approved by Director as a foster
and Director sets limit
-- Fosters must present a sworn document (notarized) by owner and one adult
residing at the premises that they agree to unannounced inspections
=========================================================
Talking Points
Talking points are suggestions of key points that can be made regarding
these ordinances. It is always best to personalize them. I have included a
lot of ideas and by NO means will you be able to include all of them. You
can pick and choose ones that hit home with you and personalize them if
possible.
Plus, you may have others which is great! It is good to get a wide range of
perspectives. Make any letters no more than one page.
One major point that should be addressed and included in the subject line or
any phone calls:
I am OPPOSED to any kind of Mandatory Spay Neuter including Registration
for Competition Dogs/Cats.
Talking Points MSN (for letters, calls, emails, speaking):
-- Opposed to MSN including registering for competition animals
-- Support voluntary MSN for pets
-- Support low cost spay neuter initiatives for voluntary spay neuter for
those who can't afford it
-- Support laws to eliminate puppy millers and hoarders who breed
indiscriminately and in bad conditions
-- Ordinances are too invasive and controlling
-- Ordinances seek to eliminate responsible breeding by restrictive fees
(really fines) and rules
-- Government should not seek to control how we own our animals
-- There are at large laws that will prevent indiscriminate breeding of
strays if enforced
-- There are feral cat colony laws that will encourage the spay neuter of
feral cats thereby reducing the at large cat population if encouraged
-- There are cruelty laws that can prevent puppy millers and hoarders from
keeping animals in deplorable conditions
-- Euthanasia numbers at the animal shelter can be reduced if people wanting
pets can be encouraged to adopt from the shelter
-- The shelter will be more appealing to adopters if it offers healthy
animals which will reduce euthanasia
-- The shelter will be more appealing to adopters if they know that the new
shelter provides separate adoption facilities for people looking for a pet
-- Shelter adoptions can be promoted by good marketing, soliciting the help
of the public to foster and volunteer, having off site adoptions all over
the city, extending adoption hours on the weekends and weekday nights, and
by enlisting the private sector to help
--New shelter is only six months old, so need to promote new facilities for
adoption
-- MSN laws that have passed in other cities and counties have actually
caused an increase in euthanasia rates and a decrease in pet registrations
-- Fort Worth abandoned their MSN ordinance because pet registrations went
down, vaccinating for Rabies went down and the incidence of Rabies increased
-- Breeder permit cost is excessive and is really a fine, but oppose breeder
permits at any cost
-- Spay neuter of infant animals has many drawbacks, but opposed to forced
MSN at any age
-- Instead of enacting more laws that are harsh, enforce existing laws
-- Enacting harsh laws alienates people from Animal Services who might
otherwise adopt or help promote adoption of shelter animals
-- People tend to rebel against harsh, unpopular laws which account for a
decline in pet registrations
-- Economically impossible to enforce MSN and breeder permits when tax
dollars could be spent on positive things like promoting shelter adoptions,
educating for voluntary spay neuter, enforcing existing laws
-- If Animal Control can't keep strays off the streets, how are they going
to enforce new laws
-- How is Animal Control going to enforce MSN--go to people's homes
demanding to check body parts of their dogs and cats
-- MSN laws eliminate the very breeders the law purports to support which
are the responsible club breeders
-- Good breeders are eliminated by harsh fines, harsh rules
-- Animal Control is not in the business of breeding, so should leave
breeding up to experience breeders
--Only 10% of dogs in the US are obtained through shelters-- most people
want pets so if more of them could be convinced to get their dogs at the
shelter, the euthanasia rates go down and fewer dogs are bought at pet
stores which are notorious for selling animals that are imported to Dallas
and many times from puppy mills. (For cats it is 18%)
-- 75% of OWNED dogs are spayed or neutered. 87% of OWNED cats. This shows
that pet owners overwhelmingly spay and neuter their pets.
-- MSN laws are directed at OWNERS, not the un-owned stray dogs and cats
-- High fines will cause many owners to lose their dogs and cats causing an
increase in euthanasia
-- Education is important so that people select the right pet for them and
know how to handle issues with house training, shedding, barking--this
prevents owner relinquishments to the animal shelter
-- MSN is offensive to our rights as owners and as citizens regardless of
breeding or competing
--If you are NOT a breeder or only occasionally breed, it is very good to
point this out
-- If you have spayed/neutered dogs this is good to point out
--If your dogs are pets only, good to point out
--If you only have a few dogs, good to point out (dispels notion that only
breeders with lots of animals oppose these laws)
-- Demonstrate that you love your dogs and have fun with them if you compete
and how dog likes to participate
Talking Point for Pet Limitations
--Limiting the number of pets makes no sense in light of the shelter
needing to adopt out more
-- The issue is not the number of pets, but how they are kept and if they
are a nuisance to neighbors--one dog can be a nuisance in the wrong hands
while many dogs can peacefully exist with neighbors if handled correctly
-- Law punishes good owners who do not disrespect others
-- Target bad owners
-- Pet numbers come into play if someone keeps them in bad conditions and
existing cruelty laws are designed to prevent that
-- In all of Dallas' history there has been no government intervention in
how many pets may be owned (with exception of apartments)
-- Unreasonable restriction on property ownership since pets are property no
matter how much we love them
====================================================
Be polite and positive always! Being negative or acidic tends to alienate.
Passionate-yes! Poisonous-no!
I compiled the following which is also attached:
Quality of Life and Government Services
Chair
Pauline Medrano (District 2)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-4048
Fax
(214) 670-5117 pauline.medrano@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Rosa Gallegos
(214) 670-4048
Secretary
Patricia Ramirez
(214) 670-4171
--------------------------------------------
Vice Chair
Vonciel Jones Hill (District 5)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-0777
Fax
(214) 670-5117
vonciel.jones-hill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Steven Williams
(214) 670-0777
Secretary
Glenda Aguirre
(214) 670-0772
------------------------------------------------
Members
Carolyn R. Davis (District 7)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-4689
Fax
(214) 670-5115 carolyn.davis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Yolanda Davis
(214) 670-4689
Secretary
Cynthia Northcutt
(214) 671-8919
-------------------------------------------
Angela Hunt (District 14)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FN
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-5415
Fax
(214) 670-5117 angela.hunt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Debbie Tarpley
(214) 670-5415
Secretary
Connie Sanchez
(214) 670-5659
--------------------------------------------
Sheffie Kadane (District 9)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-4069
Fax
(214) 670-5115 sheffie.kadane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Caroline Nosworthy
(214) 670-4069
Secretary
Joyce Jones
(214) 671-8916
----------------------------------------------
David A. Neumann (District 3)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-0776
Fax
(214) 670-5115 david.neumann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Mindy Owen
(214) 670-0776
Secretary
Melinda Medina
(214) 671-8917
-----------------------------------------------
Steve Salazar (District 6)
Dallas City Hall
1500 Marilla Street, Room 5FS
Dallas, TX 75201-6390
Main Phone
(214) 670-4199
Fax
(214) 670-5115 steve.salazar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Assistant
Leticia Holt
(214) 670-4199
Secretary
Delma Frausto
(214) 670-6931
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
900 NE Loop 410 #311-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
Phone: (210) 822-6763
Website: www.responsiblepetowners.org
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