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Pasadena MSN proposal

 -----Original Message-----
To: bbogaard <bbogaard@cityofpasadena.net>; district1 <district1@cityofpasadena.net>; mlmorales <mlmorales@cityofpasadena.net>; christiancruz <christiancruz@cityofpasadena.net>; jwest <jwest@cityofpasadena.net>; nsullivan <nsullivan@cityofpasadena.net>; vdelacuba <vdelacuba@cityofpasadena.net>; smadison <smadison@cityofpasadena.net>; ttornek <ttornek@cityofpasadena.net>
Sent: Fri, Jan 24, 2014 1:20 pm
Subject: Agenda item #15 for Monday, January 27, 2014

California Federation of Dog Clubs

PO Box 2341

Lancaster, CA 93539

www.cfodconline.org

 

Pasadena City Council

Pasadena City Hall

100 North Garfield Avenue

Room S249

Pasadena, CA 91101

     

January 24, 2014

 

Dear Mayor Bogaard, Vice Mayor Robinson, and City Council Members,

     

The California Federation of Dog Clubs is an association of thousands of dog owners across the State of California. Formed in 1990, the CFoDC works tirelessly to promote animal welfare, educate the public regarding responsible animal ownership, and protect the rights of responsible animal owners. We administer a disaster relief fund, conduct breed ID workshops for shelter personnel, provide educational information on responsible pet ownership. We also man a toll-free assistance line for animal owners who need advice regarding pet training and behavioral issues. We support animal legislation with positive benefits to society.

       

Yet AGAIN the City of Pasadena is attempting to push through a mandate to sterilize dogs this time targeting only those who own "pit bulls". There is no way to identify a "pit bull" or mix with any degree of certainty, besides which, the idea that "pit bulls" are a societal problem is a falsehood. Bull terriers score BETTER on temperament testing than most other breeds of dogs.

 

Breed-specific sterilization mandates are ineffective and being repealed all over the country.

 

     The CFODC is OPPOSED to the mandated sterilization of pets, no matter what exemptions are offered. Some of the reasons for our opposition include:

•   The ASPCA and the American Veterinary Medical Association are OPPOSED to mandatory sterilization because it creates more problems than it solves.

• Existing leash and confinement laws should be enforced. Sterilization does NOT prevent roaming.
• There is no evidence to support the assertion that shelter intakes are caused by animals bred locally. Most puppies are sold outside of the local area where they are born.
• Mandated surgery disproportionately punishes low-income families.
• Punitive sterilization laws results in increased shelter intakes and deaths anywhere they are tried. Fewer people will reclaim their pets due to high costs. Los Angeles has seen a steep rise in shelter intakes since implementing its own mandatory spay/neuter law. So has Memphis, Tennessee.
• Mandatory sterilization is costly to enforce.
• Revenues will drop, as owners will increasingly avoid licensing and forced surgery on their pets. There will be even LESS money for the needed enforcement.
• Oppressive forced sterilization laws have resulted in increased incidence of RABIES in some areas, as owners who avoid licensing may also fail to vaccinate for rabies. This creates a dire risk to human health. With recent instances of rabid wildlife in the Inland valley we should not do anything that would jeopardize public cooperation with rabies vaccination programs. Fort Worth TX repealed their law due to increased cases of rabies.
• Dogs are being smuggled in by the thousands now, from Mexico and other countries, to meet the demand for pets. Mandatory sterilization creates a black market for dogs and puppies. Black market pets bring rabies and parasites along with them.
• Feral cats comprise the majority of shelter intakes, and sterilization mandates do not help feral cats. The only result is that Good Samaritans who care for feral cats are punished.
• Studies show that dogs who are neutered have more health and behavioral problems than dogs who are left intact.

 

Two new major studies are summarized here:

 

http://time4dogs.blogspot.com/2014/01/dont-spay-or-neuter-your-pets.html

 

We urge you to REJECT any mandatory sterilization ordinances and instead focus on measures proven to work over the past thirty years….aggressive public education campaigns, trap/neuter and release programs for feral cats, and low-cost voluntary sterilization clinics.

 

Sincerely yours,

Geneva Coats, R.N.

Secretary, California Federation of Dog Clubs

 CC: Bill Bogaard, Jaque Robinson, Margaret McAustin, John J. Kennedy, Gene Masuda, Victor Gordo, Steve Madison, Terry Tornek

MSN for "pit bulls" on Pasadena agenda Monday Jan 27

 

A modified version of the October ordinance is now on the city council agenda for JANUARY 27, at 7 p.m. (the agenda was posted last night!).

This modified draft ordinance focuses on "pit bull and pit bull cross breeds" which the ordinance defines as "Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terrier, or American Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog, or any mixed breed of dog which contains, as an element of its breeding, any of these breeds…"

 

At the October 2013 meeting, City Council decided to defer the topic for 6 months until the Pasadena Humane Society - SPCA had completed their dog license canvassing of the city, but apparently, at their November 25, 2013 meeting, they directed staff to draft this ordinance anyway. 

 

Calls, letters and attendance at the meeting are requested.

 

Public Meeting 7:00 P.M.
Council Chamber, Pasadena City Hall
100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249

 

Mayor Bill Bogaard

Phone (626) 744-7147
Alt Phone (626) 744-4311
Email bbogaard@cityofpasadena.net

Vice Mayor Jacque Robinson

Phone (626) 744-4444
Fax (626) 396-7300
Email district1@cityofpasadena.net

 

Margaret McAustin

Phone (626) 744-4742
Email mlmorales@cityofpasadena.net

John J. Kennedy

Phone (626) 744-4738
Fax (626) 744-4774
Email:
ChristianCruz@cityofpasadena.net
jwest@cityofpasadena.net

Gene Masuda

Phone (626) 744-4740
Email: nsullivan@cityofpasadena.net

 

Victor M. Gordo, Esq.

Phone (626) 744-4741 or (626) 831-8609
Fax (626) 398-1836

Email vdelacuba@cityofpasadena.net

Steve Madison

Phone (626) 744-4739

Email smadison@cityofpasadena.net

Terry Torneck

Phone (626) 441-4802
Fax (626) 441-4806

Email ttornek@cityofpasadena.net

The agenda for this Monday's City Council meeting can be found at this link:

http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2014%20Agendas/Jan_27_14/agenda.asp

The staff report and ordinance fact sheet can be found at this link:

http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2014%20Agendas/Jan_27_14/AR%2015.pdf

 

 

 

 

AZ Alert: Phoenix City Council to Consider Problematic Definition of “Pet Dealer” TOMORROW (12/18)

 Trouble for our neighbors in Arizona.....

 

December 17, 2013

The AKC Government Relations Department (AKC GR) has just learned that the Phoenix City Council will consider a proposal tomorrow that would prevent "pet dealers" from selling puppies unless the puppies come from a shelter or nonprofit rescue.

The concern is that the definition of "pet dealer" exempts kennels, which are defined as those who keep or harbor five or more dogs.  It is unclear if those who have fewer than five dogs would be considered a "pet dealer" and therefore subject to this regulation.

Those who reside or participate in dog events in Phoenix are encouraged to consider attending tomorrow's hearing and contacting the Phoenix City Council and respectfully ask them to clarify this proposal to ensure that Phoenix hobbyists with fewer than five dogs are not included in this ordinance.

Meeting Information:

Phoenix City Council Hearing
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
3:00 pm
Phoenix City Hall Council Chambers
200 W Jefferson Street

Contact Information:
Click here to find your City Council member

Click here to find the contact information for Mayor Stanton and the Phoenix City Council.

 

 

 

 

 

       
            
    

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MSN is counterproductive

From: Jan Dykema

To: supervisor.foy@ventura.org

Sent: Wed, Dec 11, 2013 11:38 pm

Subject: MSN

Dear Supervisor Foy:

I spent the entire evening watching the entire public hearing on Ventura passing a mandatory spay/neuter law. Much of it was painful as I listened to erudite speakers having to defend their right to breed a litter of puppies without the government looking over their shoulder (or rather "inspecting" their private homes) and extracting fees and other fines, and  .. let's call it what it really is, a TAX.. on people who wish to breed their dog.

 

I watched as speaker after speaker presented concrete evidence; facts and statistics that without any doubt showed that MSN does not work, never has worked and never will work. I watched as people decried and denied these facts as somehow irrelevant to Ventura County; as if it was somehow special and that what happens in LA is not relevant. It IS relevant, and always will be.

 

Facts are facts. The housing "bubble" cannot be blamed for years of proven statistics that show MSN does not work.

 

I live in Napa County. We do not have MSN. Lake County is the next county over, and they do have MSN . Their shelter kills many more animals than we do. 

As I looked at Ventura County stats I wondered, how much better can they get? Your shelter is doing a great job, numbers are dropping at a huge rate, so why the need for this (I hesitate to use the word as it was so overworked) "tool"? It appears that you will reach the 90% rate in very little time if all continues as it has neen, without MSN. I was impressed with the amount of VOLUNTARY surgeries that were already done in your area and with the fact they were low cost or even free. Good for you! It is working and working well, if all of that is true.

I will be forthcoming. I am a licensed American Kennel Club judge and an occasional breeder of English Bull Terriers ( the Target dog, General Patton or Spuds Mackenzie depending on your shopping habits, age and propensity for libations). I sit on the Board of Directors of the California Federation of Dog Clubs and have spent much time in Sacramento lobbying for people rights to own and breed animals of all types and for them  to be able to use the animals for the work they were bred for, so I am not entirely neutral on this issue; but I try to be open minded because I am also a trained Humane Officer.

I did see that much information was handed to you all during the hearing. I wondered why? None of you had any time to read the information before the vote was taken, although it did seem that you ( and you alone) had time to look at the charts that were presented and at least absorb the information. 

Animals are a very emotional issue, but all facts must be considered including loss of income for the county, and less licensing for dogs and cats. A major problem that I did not hear addressed in a very significant way was the drop in rabies vaccinations that occurs when punitive laws are put into effect. Rabies is not a dog issue. It is a serious public health issue and when people do not comply due to fear or interference, the risk is escalated to a degree that cannot be calculated until a human being is infected and dies.

Finally, I heard the words  "No Kill" over and over again. And yet, no one actually reported who is the "father" of the No Kill movement. That would be Nathan Winograd. Mr. Winograd invented the words "No Kill" and has a very specific plan on how shelters can become "No Kill". Nowhere anywhere in his statements and writings regarding No Kill does Mr Winograd EVER say MSN is a part of the No Kill program. If fact, he intentionally says MSN NEVER helps the No Kill program and that MSN should never be a part of any No Kill program. 

I have taken the liberty to include a few of Mr. Winograds information by attachments here. (all safe to open) Here is an excerpt:

"Moreover, mandatory spay/neuter laws are not a new or untested idea in the U.S. They have been around for decades and historically have been the favored form of pseudo-advocacy by the voices of tradition within the animal sheltering industry. In fact, many U.S. communities already have such laws. Are those communities No Kill? No, far from it. While mandatory spay/neuter laws have long been the siren song of the animal protection movement, the evidence proves that when implemented in the U.S., such laws have been disastrous. Over and over, mandatory spay/neuter legislation is pushed as a quick solution to high rates of shelter killing."

 

 

“If only we had a spay/neuter law” the argument goes, “all the bad, irresponsible people would have to take care of their pets properly, and shelters wouldn’t have to kill so many animals.” If this were true, given the proliferation of such punitive mandates nationwide, these laws would have already created many No Kill communities. That there are none as a result of mandatory spay/neuter laws proves that such legislation does not work. In fact, it often has the opposite effect. Communities that have passed such laws are not only far from No Kill; they are moving in the opposite direction, killing more, not fewer animals."

I hope Ventura County will be the exception to this rule but statistics and time do not bear this out.

Thank you for your support of less government interference in the lives of American citizens and for voting no on this ordinance. You would have my vote if I had one!

Jan

Jan Dykema

Certified Humane Officer

American Kennel Club Judge

BOD California Federation of Dog Clubs

attachments:

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?tag=mandatory-spayneuter

http://fixaustin.blogspot.com/2008/01/mandatory-spayneuter-success-not.html

http://www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/mandatorylaws.pdf

Ventura County, CA Holds Final Vote on Mandatory Spay/Neuter Ordinance, Breeder Permits

 

 

Dear AKC Delegates, Club Officers, Breeders and Legislative Liaisons,

Please pass this information on to your club members in the Ventura County area.

On Tuesday, December 10^th, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will hold a final vote on an ordinance that would establish mandatory spay/neuter of dogs and cats in the county unless the owner qualifies for an exemption. The measure passed by a vote of 4-1 in November. It also would require breeders to purchase a $100 breeding permit and submit to property inspections. It is imperative that responsible owners and breeders attend this meeting and oppose these burdensome and ineffective proposals.

Dog clubs and organizations are encouraged to personalize the attached letter and send it to the Supervisors at the email addresses listed below. A sample letter for individuals to personalize can be found here.

Ventura County Board of Supervisors Meeting

Date: Tuesday December 10^th

Time: 2:00 PM (Special hearing time for this item)

Location: County Government Center, Hall of Administration, Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009

The full draft of the ordinance can be seen online here. Very few modifications have been made from the November draft. Provisions include:

Section 4221: Prohibition against Unaltered Dog or Cat

Animals may only remain intact if one the following exemptions apply:

• The dog or cat is a breed approved by and is registered with the American Kennel Club or a similar foreign registry recognized by the Division, whose program and practices are consistent with the humane treatment of animals, and the dog or cat is actively used to exhibit or compete and has competed in at least one legitimate exhibition or sporting competition hosted by, or under the approval of, the American Kennel Club or a similar foreign registry, within the last two years, or is being trained or groomed to exhibit or compete and is too young to have yet competed.
• The dog has earned, or if under three years old, is actively being trained and in the process of earning, an agility, carting, herding, protection, rally, hunting, working, or other title from a registry or association approved by the Division.
• The dog is being, or has been, appropriately trained and is actively used in a manner that meets the definition of a guide, signal or service dog as set forth in Penal Code section 365.5, subdivisions (d), (e) and (f), or the dog is enrolled in a guide dog program administered by a person licensed under Business and Professions Code section 7200 et seq.
• The dog is being, or has been, appropriately trained and is actively used by law enforcement agencies, the military, or search and rescue organizations, for law enforcement, military, or search and rescue activities.
• The owner of the dog or cat provides a letter to the Division from a licensed veterinarian certifying that the animal's health would be best served by spaying or neutering after a specified date; or that due to age, poor health, or illness of the animal, it is detrimental to the health of the animal to spay or neuter the animal; or that arrangements have been made to spay or neuter the dog or cat within 60 days after the compliance deadline and the dog or cat is spayed or neutered within that 60-day period. This letter shall include the veterinarian's license number and the date by which the animal may be safely spayed or neutered. The letter shall be updated periodically as necessary in the event the condition of the animal changes.
• The owner of the dog or cat is an AKC "Breeder of Merit."
• The dog or cat has a valid breeding permit issued to the owner by the Division. 

The American Kennel Club opposes the spay/neuter laws and arbitrary breeder permits as ineffective because they fail to address the underlying issue of irresponsible ownership. California state law already provides for the sterilization of animals adopted from shelters and mandates that the license fee for intact animals be at least double that of sterilized animals. The mandatory sterilization requirements proposed in this ordinance will merely punish those who are responsible owners and breeders, and the irresponsible owners who are not complying with current laws are likely to continue their behavior. 

Many communities that have implemented mandatory spay/neuter policies have found them to be ineffective and expensive. For example, after Dallas, Texas enacted MSN policies in 2008, it experienced a 22 percent increase in animal control costs and an overall decrease in licensing compliance. MSN laws often result in owners either ignoring animal control laws entirely, or relinquishing their pets to the public shelter to be cared for at the taxpayers' expense rather than pay for expensive sterilization surgery or breeder permits.  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), some owners also opt to avoid rabies vaccinations and other general veterinary care in order to hide their lack of compliance with MSN laws. 

Section 4225: Breeding Permit

• The fee for this permit will be $100 and a separate permit is required for EACH animal to be bred.
• Limits residents who own female dogs to a single litter per household per year unless written permission is obtained from the animal control director.
• Requires breeders to submit to inspections of their property.
• Requires breeders to provide their permit number to puppy purchasers and in advertisements.
• Requires breeders to provide the department with contact information for puppy purchasers.
• AKC Breeders of Merit are exempt. 

Section 4428: Prohibition on the Sale of commercially bred dogs, cats and rabbits in pet stores

• Prohibits the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in any pet store, retail establishment or commercial establishment, with the exception of animals obtained from an animal shelter or rescue group. 

AKC Resources:

AKC Position Statement: Canine Population Issues
AKC Position Statement: Spaying and Neutering
Mandatory Spay-Neuter Issue Brief
Issue Analysis: Why Mandatory Spay/Neuter Laws are Ineffective
 

What You Can Do:

• Attend the Ventura County Board of Supervisors Meeting Tuesday, December 10^th at 2:00 PM and speak in opposition to this burdensome and ineffective measure.
• If you are unable to attend this hearing, please send an email to the commissioners asking them to oppose this ordinance:

 

First District – Supervisor Steve Bennett steve.bennett@ventura.org

Second District – Supervisor Linda Parks  Linda.Parks@ventura.org

Third District – Supervisor Kathy Long kathy.long@ventura.org

Fourth District - Supervisor Peter C. Foy supervisorfoy@ventura.org

Fifth District - Supervisor John C. Zaragoza John.zaragoza@ventura.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

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