CIVIL RIGHTS THREATENED BY DANGEROUS DOG LAWS, AND BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION

We citizens of the United States of America are still engaged in a civil rights struggle. This struggle knows no racial boundaries, it knows no social status, it knows no financial status. It affects every person, from the poorest, to the most affluent, from the city dweller, to the largest land owner. It goes to our most ancient and traditional property, and to our ownership, and use rights in animals.  Dog/animal ownership is as varied, as is the human tapestry that bonds our great nation.

All domestic animal breeds were developed by human beings. The Canine Genome Project used DNA samples to prove that all domestic dog breeds have been developed using canis lupis familiaris, a sub-species of the grey wolf. Dogs have been human property for tens of thousands of years.  Dogs serve us in most every capacity from the gentle companion to service dogs, to guide dogs, to police dogs, to search, and rescue dogs, military dogs, drug sniffing dogs, hunting dogs, field dogs, herding dogs, guard dogs, show dogs, obedience dogs, dancing dogs, agility dogs, fly ball racers, the list is endless, and endlessly varied. Dogs are valuable property. 

When we site the adage, "Punish the Deed, not the Breed", we are actually encouraging legislatures to hold animals responsible for their actions. Dangerous dog laws remove the human factor, and concentrate solely upon the dog, not taking into consideration that the dog is the responsibility of it's owner. Lawmakers go to great lengths to describe, and to define animal behaviors, and to then punish said behaviors. It is far more reasonable to write laws that are directed at the dog owner, rather than the dog. 

Our laws must be written for we human beings. Laws must be reasonable. Animals must not be criminalized under laws that are intended to protect human rights, and to control human behaviors. It is unreasonable to write animal behavior into laws that no animal has the capacity to understand, answer to, or to function under. It is unreasonable to mete out criminal labels to animals, i.e. dangerous, or potentially dangerous.  It is unreasonable to prescribe punishments to animals under our laws.  We must bring this writing of animal behaviors into our laws to a  halt, and demand that humans be held accountable, not animals. We must stop thinking that it is a better trade off than prohibitions on dog ownership. We are wrong.  Neither is a good choice.  

No dog is capable of understanding, or answering to any law that has ever been written.    Dangerous dog laws that hold a dog to a set of written regulations that it will never respond is a perfect set up to promote animal rights, where an animal is given a legal position under the law to conform, or to behave in a proscribed manner.  Laws are not in the realm of the understanding of even the most intelligent dog.  To set forth behavioral acceptability, and punishments for animals is to elevate them to a human level under law.  This is just exactly what the animal rights movement wants.  When we accept dangerous dog laws, we are hugging the serpent.  Our laws must only be written to proscribe human behavior.  We must see dangerous dog laws that hold animals to accountability under the law for what they are. As the law elevates animals, it devalues human beings. The animal rights movement expects us to fight breed specific legislation, and to promote dangerous dog laws, and we have done just that, undermining our own civil rights. Dangerous dog laws appear on the surface to have due process, but it is the animal that is put on trial, and the owner is not allowsed any imput into the hearing. The Spokane County Superior Court found that Spokane's dangerous dog law's due process was flawed, and was not in reality due process.

Laws must give people the right to due process of law.  BSL in Denver, Kennewick, and many places across the United States remove animals for no reason other than breed, from responsible owners, with no charges of negligence, and no opportunity to have a case, or to have the case heard in the Courts. BSL allows warrantless searches, and seizures of private property for no reason other than the breed of dog involved. BSL violates the Constitutional right to recompense for property taken by government for public use, i.e. public safety.  New Jersey is proposing to have special licensing to own dog breeds.

A license is a temporary revocable permit that allows the licensee to have something, or to do something that would be illegal to have, or to do without the license. It makes dog ownership illegal. It turns over all ownership, and use rights to the licensing agency which can at any time, inspect, confiscate, suspend, revoke, or halt issuance of the license. Licensure is a taking by government without compensation. If you live in a city, town, municipality, county, or state that requires dog licensing, then the act of dog ownership has been made illegal without permission of government. 

Some licenses are reasonable.  To drive upon public streets, roads, and highways your drivers license is proof of proficiency.  Drivers licenses are regularly revoked, or suspended for failure to show competency.  It's reasonable to license for the practice medicine, or law.   Licensing has been carried to the extreme in the USA.  We supposedly live in a free enterprise system, yet every business must be licensed. We must have a license to marry, to fish, to hunt, to own firearms, which is how our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms was undermined to the point of illegality. 

When we agree to license our dogs we agree to give over our ownership right to the licensing agency, which can at any time revoke our use rights.  We grant them absolute control over our animals.  They can come onto our real property, and remove our transitory property (dogs) without due process of law.  Ostensibly cities, counties, or states which require licensing could refuse to issue further licenses, and revoke the privilege of dog ownership. Mandatory dog licensing was the initial step in removing dogs from our ownership.

Those who own the target breeds are set apart,  are vilified, and made to look like criminals, so that the rest of society will not be troubled by the government's taking of the dogs.  The owners of these targeted breeds are victims of hate crimes, initiated by government.  Communities will actually endorse the taking of  dogs, not realizing that other breeds of dogs are going to be added to the growing list of restricted, or prohibited dogs. The targeted dogs are purportedly endowed with mythical powers that no other breed of canine can match. The surrounding myth would make these dogs so omnipotent that no mere mortal could possibly outsmart, control, train, contain, or  have a normal owner relationship with them. These are exactly the self same tactics that have been historically used against any of the victims of hate crimes.

Neither should we allow prohibitions on the responsible ownership of any dog by breed.  It violates the XIV Amendment, equal treatment, equal protection. The taking of dogs by breed is only the beginning of the eventual removal of all animals from our ownership, and use. Animals are among the most ancient of our traditional property, when government decides to remove our ownership rights, it will be piecemeal, not whole hog. Think for a moment what would happen if your city, or county government stipulated that all dogs must be forfeit.  People would stand up, and put an immediate stop to that.  It would immediately be recognized as an assault on our civil rights, whereas the taking of dogs by breed doesn't engender the same recognition.  

The secondary step was the introduction of breed specific dog laws that limit, or prohibit the ownership of dogs based solely upon their breed.  To the inexperienced, or uneducated citizen BSL appears to be a way to control dogs.  Far from that simplistic view, it is government exerting control over the rights of human beings to have the full use and enjoyment of his/her property as is granted under the US Constitution.  Breed specific dog ordinances set up the owners of the named breeds for exceptional treatment under law.  In the limited , or restricted permission to own a "dangerous breed",  another license was brought to bear upon the dog owner, plus the added burden of having to post an exorbitant surety bond, or liability insurance that was unavailable. 

Breed specific dog laws appear on the surface to be about dogs, but upon closer examination we discover that BSL is all about we human owners of dogs. It's about government invading the sanctity of our homes, and our property without a warrant and removing animals that we consider to be a part of our family. It is about government criminalizing the ownership of dogs by breed. It is about the taking from we, the people, all of the numerous breeds, and mixed breeds of dogs that are now named in breed specific prohibitions, or restrictions in venues across the United States at this very time.  Prohibitions on the ownership of dogs can overlap to become prohibitions on all animals. There are no stop-gaps built into breed specific legislation to prevent an overlap. 

As citizens we are guaranteed equal treatment, and equal protection.  As owners of the targeted breeds we are treated as  though we have committed a crime, again without due process of law.  We are labeled as being less responsible, less capable, of having less rights than our fellow dog owners whose breeds have temporarily escaped the restrictions, or prohibitions.  Are we not tax payers? Are we not property owners?  Do we not participate in our political processes? Are we secondary citizens?   If we do not stand up for ourselves we will all become slaves to an out of control government.

All law is based upon supporting, and upholding the rights granted to us under the Constitution. Laws must be able to stand up to the Constitutional challenge.  Local, state, and federal agencies have circumvented law by initiating "regulations, ordinances, codes," etc., which we citizens blindly agree to abide by, thus making these regulations, codes, and ordinances enforceable.  Once we comply, we must ever comply.  Compliance is agreement.  If you have ever paid for and received a license to own a dog in your local, and you refuse to re-license at the end of the period that the license was issued you can be cited, and taken to Court.  The Court can sentence you for not continuing to abide by the agreement that you entered into with the licensing agency.

Obviously the third and final step in removing our property rights in animals is the complete ban on ownership. A retirement community in Florida has already made the proposal. It was soundly trounced.  The USA is not yet ready for an all out ban.  But the chipping away process is in full speed ahead.  Breed specific ownership ordinances have been with us for over thirty years.  It takes time for radical ideas to begin to sound reasonable.  They must be bolstered with heavy doses of propaganda. They must be propped up with legal precedent.  Most importantly they must be acquiesced to by the people.

Far more people are killed by any number of other things than by dogs.  Venomous snake bites kill an average of fifteen to twenty Americans per year. Bees kill one hundred, to three hundred persons a year on average. In 1989 fire-ant stings killed thirty two people in Texas. Lightening strikes one in every six hundred thousand persons killing one hundred, to three hundred persons annually.According to the U.S. Department of Labor there were five thousand, five hundred, and seventy-five work related fatalities in 2003. There were thirty eight thousand (38,000) fatal automobile crashes in 2003 across the U.S.  Sadly, an average of fifteen hundred (1,500) children are killed each year in the United States by a parent, or guardian. The leading cause of death among pregnant women in the U.S. is murder at the hand of the father of her unborn child.   

Given these figures, the restrictions on ownership of dogs by breed, makes no sense.  California's SB 861 analysis quotes figures that there have been forty-seven human deaths in California that were attributable to dogs from the years 1965 through 2001. That averages to one death a year out of a population of some thirty-five million, eighty-four thousand, four hundred and fifty-three people (35,084,453). Subtract one from the figure 35,484,453 and you will see how many people did not die from dog bites in California each year...  San Francisco averages three hundred and sixty two reported dog bites per year, approximately one bite per day from a population of seven hundred fifty-one thousand,six hundred and eighty-two (751,682) people. In any given year in San Francisco 751,320 people are not bitten by dogs. Public Safety, cannot, and must not be used as an excuse to remove our civil rights. Sound, responsible dog owner legislation that is strictly enforced, is a reasonable alternative that reinforces our civil rights.

Every year approximately four million people across the United States are bitten by dogs. That number makes up about 1% of our population.   Out of that figure, the vast majority of dog bite victims are unattended children who are bitten by their family dog at home.  The rest are unattended children who are off of their family property that are bitten by a dog that is at large.  The number of fatalities resulting from dog attacks across the United States average from twelve, to twenty four in any given year. Dogs are certainly not the threat to public health, and safety that the news media would lead us all to believe.  Shocking, and horrifying as these dog related fatalities are, there are many, and far  more serious threats to human life here in the United States. 

There are a whole lot of dogs, in the United States, tens of millions. Of the 350,000,000 of us human beings ,about sixty-five percent, give or take, own dogs. If the vast majority of dog owners were not  responsible, there would be at least as many deaths attributable to dogs, as there are to automobile crashes. Dog related fatalities are very few in comparison to any other cause. Out of a population of some 350,000,000 to lose 12, to 24 people in a year to dog attacks is a strong case for, and speaks volumes to the overall safety record of dog owners

Once we realize that these laws are truly aimed at removing all of our property rights, civil rights, and Constitutional Rights  we can shed the blinders, and get down to the real business of protecting our civil rights. When we stand up for ourselves as citizens, when we refuse to have our rights, and our property stripped from us, then we will be invincible. We must demand due process of law. We must not give over our civil rights, and our property, or our property rights.  This country was founded upon the ideal of free people taking responsibility for their actions, participating actively in the political process, being citizen statesmen, and women, and being self governing. 

The following statement exerpted from the Constitution of Washington State expresses exactly what the framers  envisioned for we the people; "All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights."  The U.S. Constitution guarantees that we would be able to protect ourselves, and our property with the following words; "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law."  Every household in the United States of America should openly display, and study the Constitution before we have acquiesced all of our rights and liberties away.

Cherie Graves, chairwoman
Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States
P.O. Box 1406
Newport, WA 99156
http://www.povn.com/rdows
http://www.povn.com/rdows/donations.html
https://rdows.wordpress.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UAOA
http://www.unitedAnimalownersalliance.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RDOWS

RDOWS OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO WASHINGTON 2511

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATES

P.O. Box 1406  Newport, WA 99156

Web Site http://www.povn.com/rdows E-mail US rdows@povn.com

Blog https://rdows.wordpress.com  E-mail List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdows

Cherie Graves, Chairwoman, WA, (509) 447-2821

Judy Schreiber-Dwornick, Assistant to the Chair, Director at Large, rdowsdirectoratlarge@gmail.com

Hermine Stover, Secretary, Press Liaison, CA, hermine@endangeredspecies.com

Mary Schaeffer, Finance Director, finedogs@hotmail.com

California Director, Jan Dykema bestuvall@sbcglobal.net

Illinois Director, Elizabeth Pensgard bpensgard@yahoo.com

Indiana Director, Charles Coffman candkcoffman@comcast.net

Iowa Director, Leisa Boysen rdows_iowa@yahoo.com

Mississippi Director, Dan Crutchfield farmer1@telepak.net

Nevada Director, Ken Sondej 4winds@viawest.net

Ohio Director, Tiffany Skotnicky ohdirrdows@yahoo.com

Oklahoma Director, Jade Harris aadrlegislation@yahoo.com

Tennessee Director, Gina Cotton ginacotton@msn.com

Texas Director, Alvin Crow crobx@austin.rr.com

OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO WASHINGTON HB 2511

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States was formed October 15, 1989 to protect the rights, and interests of dog owners. 

Responsible Dog Owners is opposed to Washington HB 2511 as it violates the commerce rights of the citizen bird, cat, dog breeders of Washington. If enacted as introduced HB2511 will cause the importation of pure-bred cats and dogs bred by breeders outside of Washington in order to meet in state demand for pets. HB2511 acts to the detriment of Washington dog, and cat breeders whose ability to breed and sell pure-bred animals is curtailed by HB2511.

HB2511 unfairly allows not-for profit organizations to breed, and to sell animals unhampered by regulation. These not for profit organizations are importing animals from foreign nations to fill empty shelters.

(See, Tufts: Filling Empty Shelters

http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/020603FillingEmptyPounds.htm 

See, USA TODAY:  Dog imports raise fears of a resurgence of disease http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htm )

Animal Shelters are being shut down across this nation due to diseases that are carried into the United States by animals imported by not-for Profit animal organizations, and animal shelters. (See, Outbreak of Drug-Resistant Salmonella at an Animal Shelter; http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/nov_dec_2004/outbreak_of_drug-resistant_salmonella.html See Animal Shelter Shuts Down Due To Parvo Virus  http://www.kmbc.com/news/8006476/detail.html?rss=kc1&psp=news See, CDC

Human Rabies — Indiana and California, 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5615a1.htm 

See, Disease shuts animal shelter http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-10-Sat-2007/news/12517017.html

HB 2511 violates the United States Constitution under the 5^th, 14^th Amendment, and the Commerce Clause.  Washington dog, bird, and cat breeders are not allowed to  sell  as many cats, birds and dogs as the fair market allows. No other part of Washington’s animal breeding industry is restricted by legislation.

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States calls upon the Washington State Legislature to kill HB2511. It is the duty, and the responsibility of the legislature to protect, and defend the rights of the people of Washington. HB2511 is a taking of the property and use rights of Washington’s pure-bred dog and cat breeders.

RDOWS OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO ARIZONA HB 2516

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATESP.O. Box 1406  Newport, WA 99156Web Site http://www.povn.com/rdows E-mail US rdows@povn.comBlog https://rdows.wordpress.com  E-mail List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdows Cherie Graves, Chairwoman, WA, (509) 447-2821Judy Schreiber-Dwornick, Assistant to the Chair, Director at Large, rdowsdirectoratlarge@gmail.comHermine Stover, Secretary, Press Liaison, CA, hermine@endangeredspecies.comMary Schaeffer, Finance Director, finedogs@hotmail.comArizona Director, John Bowen johnalldogs@sprintmail.comCalifornia Director, Jan Dykema bestuvall@sbcglobal.netIllinois Director, Elizabeth Pensgard bpensgard@yahoo.comIndiana Director, Charles Coffman candkcoffman@comcast.netIowa Director, Leisa Boysen rdows_iowa@yahoo.comMississippi Director, Dan Crutchfield farmer1@telepak.netNevada Director, Ken Sondej 4winds@viawest.netOhio Director, Tiffany Skotnicky ohdirrdows@yahoo.comOklahoma Director, Jade Harris aadrlegislation@yahoo.comTennessee Director, Gina Cotton ginacotton@msn.comTexas Director, Alvin Crow crobx@austin.rr.com OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO ARIZONA HB2516

 Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States was formed October 15, 1989 to protect the civil rights, Constitutional rights, and interests of dog owners. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States takes the position that animals are valuable property. Animals are among the most ancient of traditional property of human beings.

 Responsible Dog Owners is opposed to Arizona HB2516  as it violates the commerce rights of the citizen  dog breeders of Arizona. If enacted as introduced HB2516 will cause the importation of pure-bred dogs bred by breeders outside of Arizona in order to meet in state demand for pets. HB2516 acts to the detriment of  Arizona’s dog, and cat breeders whose ability to breed and sell pure-bred animals is curtailed by HB2516.

 Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States calls upon the Legislature of the state of Arizona to curtail the mass importation of animals by not for profit animal shelters, and rescue organizations that flood shelters with animals from Asia, Romania, India, and elsewhere while creating a false “animal over-population crisis”  and pointing fingers of blame at responsible Arizona dog breeders.  See the evidence in the articles listed below.

 (1) TUFTS: FILLING EMPTY DOG POUNDS (FROM 02-06-03) http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/020603FillingEmptyPounds.htm Pet Underpopulation: The Pet Shortage in the US by Laura Baughanhttp://spanieljournal.com/33baughan.html(2) Dog imports raise fears of a resurgence of disease http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htmOutbreak of Drug-Resistant Salmonella at an Animal Shelter http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/nov_dec_2004/outbreak_of_drug-resistant_salmonella.htmlDisease shuts animal shelter (Las Vegas) http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-10-Sat-2007/news/12517017.html(3) Rabies Treatment Saves One, Does Not Work for All http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267191,00.htmlHuman Rabies — Indiana and California, 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5615a1.htm(4) 8 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Dog Shelters http://www.toybreeds.com/animalshelters.htmABC NEWS: 300,000 Imported Puppies Prompt Rabies Scare http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3765973&page=1

  HB2516 violates the United States Constitution under the 5^th, 14^th Amendment, and the Commerce Clause.  The state of Arizona does not hold title to the property rights of Arizona’s citizen’s animals. Animal’s genetalia belongs to the owner of the animal. Arizona dog breeders are deprived of selling as many dogs as the fair market allows. No other part of Arizona’s animal breeding industry is restricted by legislation.  Cattle, and sheep ranchers are not restricted in their breeding, and sales

It is the duty, and the responsibility of the legislature to protect, and defend the rights of the people of Arizona. HB2516 is a taking of the property and use rights of  Arizona’s pure-bred dog  breeders. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States calls upon the Arizona State Legislature to kill HB2516.

RDOWS OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO VIRGINIA HB 1570

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATESP.O. Box 1406  Newport, WA 99156Web Site http://www.povn.com/rdows E-mail US rdows@povn.comBlog https://rdows.wordpress.com  E-mail List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdows Cherie Graves, Chairwoman, WA, (509) 447-2821Judy Schreiber-Dwornick, Assistant to the Chair, Director at Large, rdowsdirectoratlarge@gmail.comHermine Stover, Secretary, Press Liaison, CA, hermine@endangeredspecies.comMary Schaeffer, Finance Director, finedogs@hotmail.comArizona Director, John Bowen johnalldogs@sprintmail.comCalifornia Director, Jan Dykema bestuvall@sbcglobal.netIllinois Director, Elizabeth Pensgard bpensgard@yahoo.comIndiana Director, Charles Coffman candkcoffman@comcast.netIowa Director, Leisa Boysen rdows_iowa@yahoo.comMississippi Director, Dan Crutchfield farmer1@telepak.netNevada Director, Ken Sondej 4winds@viawest.netOhio Director, Tiffany Skotnicky ohdirrdows@yahoo.comOklahoma Director, Jade Harris aadrlegislation@yahoo.comTennessee Director, Gina Cotton ginacotton@msn.comTexas Director, Alvin Crow crobx@austin.rr.com 

OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO VIRGINIA HB 1570

 Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States was formed October 15, 1989 to protect the civil rights, Constitutional rights, and interests of dog owners. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States takes the position that animals are valuable property. Animals are among the most ancient of traditional property of human beings.

Responsible Dog Owners is opposed to Virginia HB 1570 as it violates the commerce rights of the citizen  dog breeders of Virginia. If enacted as introduced HB 1570 will cause the importation of pure-bred dogs bred by breeders outside of Virginia in order to meet in state demand for pets. HB 1570 acts to the detriment of  Virginia’s dog, and cat breeders whose ability to breed and sell pure-bred animals is curtailed by HB 1570.

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States calls upon the Legislature of the state of Virginia to curtail the mass importation of animals by not for profit animal shelters, and rescue organizations that flood shelters with animals from Asia, Romania, India, and elsewhere while creating a false “animal over-population crisis”  and pointing fingers of blame at responsible Virginia dog breeders.  See the evidence in the articles listed below.

 (1) TUFTS: FILLING EMPTY DOG POUNDS (FROM 02-06-03) http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/020603FillingEmptyPounds.htm Pet Underpopulation: The Pet Shortage in the US by Laura Baughanhttp://spanieljournal.com/33baughan.html(2) Dog imports raise fears of a resurgence of disease http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htmOutbreak of Drug-Resistant Salmonella at an Animal Shelter http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/nov_dec_2004/outbreak_of_drug-resistant_salmonella.htmlDisease shuts animal shelter (Las Vegas) http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-10-Sat-2007/news/12517017.html(3) Rabies Treatment Saves One, Does Not Work for All http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267191,00.htmlHuman Rabies — Indiana and California, 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5615a1.htm(4) 8 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Dog Shelters http://www.toybreeds.com/animalshelters.htmABC NEWS: 300,000 Imported Puppies Prompt Rabies Scare http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3765973&page=1

 HB 1570 violates the United States Constitution under the 5^th, 14^th Amendment, and the Commerce Clause.  The state of Virginia does not hold title to the property rights of Virginia’s citizen’s animals. Animal’s genetalia belongs to the owner of the animal. Under HB 1570 Virginia dog breeders are deprived of selling as many dogs as the fair market allows. No other part of Virginia’s animal breeding industry is restricted by legislation.  Cattle, horse, and sheep ranchers are not restricted in their breeding, and sales

It is the duty, and the responsibility of the legislature to protect, and defend the rights of the people of Virginia. HB 1570 is a taking of the property and use rights of  Virginia’s pure-bred dog  breeders. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States calls upon the Virginia Legislature to kill HB 1570

EXPOSING DOGSBITE.ORG

 Colleen Lynn has organized another group called Families & Dogs Against FightingBreeds 

She has called a meeting for;

Tuesday, February 12th
6:45-8pm

Uptown Cafe
2504 4th Ave (4th & Wall)
206-441-1084

 “An open meeting of Families and Dogs Against Fighting Breeds (FDAFB) will take place on February 12, 2008, in the meeting room at the Uptown Cafe from 6:45-8 pm.

Goals will be to introduce ourselves, talk about various volunteer roles and discuss the finalized legislation for a Seattle Citizen’s Initiative regarding fighting breeds.”

She says that it is an open meeting, so all of you Seattle dog owners be sure to attend. Since the name of the group includes “dogs” we wonder just how many dogs are members of her little group. Will the dogs be welcome at the meeting?

 http://www.dogsbite.org/blog/2008/01/arkansas-group-appeals-to-federal-court.html 

Having been a recent target of the Dogsbite.org blog, I decided to do a bit of research to find out who, and what is the driving power behind this radical website. It is the brainchild of Kory Nelson, Assistant District Attorney Denver Colorado who feeds biased information to Ms. Colleen Lynn of Seattle, who is a graphic designer, and website builder. Apparently Kory Nelson researches the same news articles that I, too research.

Ms. Lynn was bitten by a dog while jogging in June 2007.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/13541159/detail.html

 There was another recent article depicting Ms. Lynn’s plight http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004112928_brodeur08m.html?syndication=rss

I found a whole lot more background when researching Ms. Lynn, she is quite the self promoter, and far from being unable to work at her chosen profession, she is now the mouthpiece for “Kill ’em All” Kory Nelson. Her business Vain Notion lists her clientele, and it is available to anyone running a search engine.

It is a tragic fact that Ms. Lynn was bitten severely while jogging. It is another fact that her bite originated from one dog, not everyone’s dog. One wonders if Ms. Lynn understands that breed specific dog laws do not prevent dog bites?

Great Britain passed nationwide BSL in 1989. The dog bite statistics remained the same. That is indicative that dog bites have nothing to do with dog breeds, but rather with negligent owners.

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States recognizes that neither “Dangerous” Dog Laws, or Breed Specific Dog Laws protect the public. That is why RDOWS Model Dog Owner Regulations were developed. RDOWS Model Dog Owner Regulations are applied to the human factor in the human/dog equation. Of the two, only the human being has the capacity to understand, and to function to law. Only human beings have rights, and are expected to respond accordingly to the attendant responsibilities that come with those rights.

When legislators focus their legislation on animal behaviors, and mete out punishments to animals, they have taken American juris prudence back to the dark ages. Laws must be written for human beings. We look to the Constitution of the United States as being the foremost authority for laws in these United States. There isn’t one mention of animals, as our founding fathers knew then that animals were, and would always be the property, and thus the responsibility of their human owners. I will attach the letter that I sent to Kory Nelson, and cc’d to Colleen Lynn.

Cherie Graves, chairwoman

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States

P.O. Box 1406 Newport, WA 99156

http://www.povn.com/rdows

http://www.povn.com/rdows/donations.html

https://rdows.wordpress.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UAOA

http://www.unitedAnimalownersalliance.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RDOWS

Having continued to research Colleen Lynn I’ve discovered some very interesting ommissions. The owner of the dog that allegedly bit Ms. Lynn has never been referenced in print. The dog was allegedly immediately euthanized, which is unorthodox, as most dogs that cause severe injury are held in quarantine, and then ethanized and the head sent for rabies testing. I have not yet been able to find a police report of the incident.  Ms. Lynn has not filed suit against the dog’s owner in Seattle, or King County.   Instead, Ms. Lynn would far prefer to cause harm to all of the dogs that were not involved in her alleged bite, and to all of the owners of those dogs.

——————————————————————————–

From: Cherie Graves To: kory.nelson@ci.denver.co.us ; colleen@vainnotion.com

Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 12:28 PM

Subject: Dogsbite.org

Kory Nelson, Assistant District Attorney, Denver Colorado

Kory Nelson,

I smell your foul stench behind Ms. Colleen Lynn’s Dogsbite.org blog. I’m sure that you directed her attention to my kennel’s website. Have you also revealed to Ms. Lynn that you are a minion of the animal rights movement whose sworn goal is the eradication of pet ownership?

Have you advised Ms. Lynn that breed specific dog ordinances set a legal precedent that allows the enacting body to add any, or all other breeds of dogs, and even all domestic species of animals?

Watch TRUTHS FROM RDOWS blog as I publicly expose your evil deeds once again. I have the courage of my convictions. I use my real name. You hide behind victims to plot against the ownership of animals, and you used your position to persuade Colleen Lynn to create her blog.

If Ms. Lynn is subpoenaed into Court, would she state that you initiated contact with her, and that you suggested that she use her computer skills to fight your war for you?

Shall we test the waters?

If Ms. Lynn were struck by a Ford truck, would you encourage her to work toward banning all Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury products? Of course not. How dare you put Ms. Lynn into such a precarious predicament, if not to appease your own ego driven obsession?

I’ve got you pegged, you are truly a pathetic piece of work.

Cherie Graves

CC: Colleen Lynn

Cherie Graves, chairwoman 

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States

P.O. Box 1406 Newport, WA 99156

Legislative Report 01-16-08

Legislative Report 01-16-08Authored by: Ken Sondej & Linda D. WitouskiKen Sondej – 4winds@viawest.netAmerican Kennel Club Legislative Liaison – Silver State Kennel Club Legislative Liaison – National Pet PressLegislative Liaison – Nevada Dog Fanciers Assc. Director Government Affairs and Legislative Advisor – Adopt A Rescue PetNevada Director – Responsible Dog Owners Western States (RDOWS)Advisor – Indiana Animal Owners AllianceAdvisor  to Clubs and groups in Southern Nevada, Arizona, CaliforniaLinda Witouski – dropfred13@aol.comAmerican Kennel Club JudgeAmerican Kennel Club Delegate – Myrtle Beach Kennel Club – SCAmerican Kennel Club Legislative Liaison – South Carolina & PennsylvaniaLegislative Liaison/Staff Writer – National Pet Press/TDPLegislative Chair/BOD – Myrtle Beach Kennel ClubLegislative Chair – Yankee Miniature Pinscher ClubLegislative Chair – Miniature Pinscher Club of America, Inc.Member: NAIA, MOF, ERPT, DSJA, DJAA, MBKC, YMPC, MPCA Handy TOLLFREE NUMBERS – Capitol Switchboard
Here are some toll-free numbers for the Capitol Switchboard:
1-866-220-0044
1-866-340-9281
1-877-851-6437
1-888-355-3588
1-800-833-6354
1-800-450-8293
1-877-762-8722
1-877-762-8762 FEDERALU.S. Senate passes Farm Bill with important Companion Animal Provision  – Last Chance for Animals (AR group)  applauds Senate for making pet theft a Federal Issue.Toledo OH –  Tellings appeal to the United States Supreme Court was filed 12-21-07http://www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/07-8545.htmSTATES – IN ALPHABETICAL ORDERALABAMAAthens – repeals pet license ordinance.  City officials said the registration was costing the city more money than it was bringing in and that it was a duplication of services with a state health law that requires dogs to be vaccinated for rabies.  12/17/07Colbert County – County’s animal control director is asking the county’s larger municipalities to consider an ordinance that would outlaw chaining dogs. Government officials in Muscle Shoals, Sheffield and Tuscumbia said they are aware of the request from county Animal Control Director Tommy Morson, but so far none of the councils has adopted the proposed ordinance.  When he presented the proposal to Sheffield council members, Morson said chaining dogs to a stake or post makes the animals more territorial and aggressive.  In addition to prohibiting tethering or chaining of dogs to stationary objects, the ordinance would mandate that dog pens must provide 100 square feet of space for each dog over 3 months old.  If dogs are confined within a fenced-in yard, the area must have sufficient space for exercise based on a dimension of 100 square feet per dog. Fences must be constructed of chain link or similar material and be tall enough to prevent the dog from escaping and each animal must have his own dog house.Dothan – new ordinance gives AC officers right of entry for the purpose to impound animal(s) and issue citations for violations (against Alabama State Law), defines regulations for “dangerous”, “vicious” and nuisance (any animal at large not spay or neutered)” dogs, prohibits urination on private property or defecate on public property, liability for damage caused by animal(s) and care of livestock.   text available upon request.ARKANSASCrossett – extended discussion involving the city’s existing animal ordinance as compared to a recommendation prepared by a committee working on the definition of a vicious dog, the council moved that City Attorney James Hamilton amend the existingordinance and prepare the committee’s suggestion in ordinance form for further discussion and review by the council.North Little Rock – new ordinance, Little Rock residents still will be allowed to have pit bulls, and new residents can move with their dogs into the city but will have to register them with Animal Services, pose for a photograph with the dog, sterilize the animal and pay an additional fee to have a dangerous breed permit.  The ordinance also limits owners to two dogs per household, would apply to American pit bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and any mix of those breeds. Text is available upon request.  NOTE: City of Little Rock was added to a lawsuit filed by Responsible Owners of Arkansas Dogs (ROADS) regarding breed selective legislation and banning of certain breedsCALIFORNIACity of Sacramento –  importing adoptable dogs to meet the demand at the shelters and building a new $25 million shelter where, evidently, they are planning to eventually be the only place in town to “buy” a pet.Kern County – During the months of May and June 2007, ten public workshops were conducted throughout Kern County to introduce possible Animal Ordinance amendments. As a result of public input received during those workshops, staff indicated that a number of changes would be included in further discussion with the Animal Control Commission   Commission will further discuss this matter at its Wednesday, January 16, 2008 meeting, 6:00 p.m. at the Public Services Building, 2700 M Street, Bakersfield.  It is possible that a formal recommendation on this proposal may be acted upon at the February 20, 2007 Commission meeting.COLORADOCarbondale – Town Council agreed Tuesday (12/11/07) after reviewing a draft of the new ordinance aimed at addressing aggressive animals, that it requires tweaking.   A revised version will come back to town trustees with further clarification of the penalty for neglecting a dog and a refined definition of “vicious.”  Other issues- ­ mandatory leash laws and limiting the number of dogs a single owner can have­ were also discussed.  Board members agreed the revised ordinance should include rewards for responsible owners.Edgewood – seeks to join surrounding communities in limiting the number of animals in a home.  Limits are based on the number of lots you are on, as opposed to the number of acres.  A 100-acre lot has the same limits as a person on a 1-acre lot.Parachute – ordinance that would have banned pit bulls, unless their owners followed several strict requirements, died after two motions to approve it failed for lack of seconds. One motion would have added other dog breeds, such as Dobermans and Rottweilers, to the ban.  DEAD  12/13/07Parachute – Town Council approves vicious-pet ordinance regaring dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs.  The ordinance would apply to all breeds of dogs and any kinds of pets.  A municipal judge would determine whether an animal is potentially dangerous after a hearing.  A dog designated as potentially dangerous would have to be spayed or neutered and kept indoors or in a secure pen to prevent it from escaping, according to the ordinance. A dog classified as dangerous, meaning it had violated the ordinance after being deemed potentially dangerous, would be humanely euthanized.  If the dog were taken off its owner’s property, it must wear a leash no longer than 4 feet.  The owner would also have to display a sign on his or her property to alert people that a dangerous animal was present, and obtain a special license and tag from the town. Violators of those conditions would be subject to a municipal fine.The ordinance will take effect once the Town Council gives it final approval at its next meeting.FLORIDALake Mary – City is discussing a change in the pet limit lawsMiami-Dade County – County Commission will be holding a public hearing at 9:30am on Tuesday, 12/18, to discuss a variety of changes to the animal control ordinance including limiting the number of pets a resident may own, implementing hobby breeder licensing, requiring mandatory microchipping for dog breeders and restricting rescue organizations. Commissioners voted in a non-public hearing to defer the Chapter 5 re-write in Miami-Dade   12/18/07Palm Beach – County commissioners are discussing proposed revisions to animal control ordinance.  The majority of people agreed to a non mandatory spay/neuter program offered through vet vouchers in the entire County. (health issues and other concerns not directly related to being a breeder were cited) This would remove the breeder “tax” from the legislature altogether and make it completely voluntary. The revisions were a result of the 6 MONTH waiting list to get low cost spay/neuter from Palm Beach Animal Care and Control. UPDATE: Palm Beach County officials have taken the bite out of a controversial plan intended to force residents to spay and neuter their pets. Newest version of the rules would allow all pet owners to opt out of the requirement by paying a $75 fee. Pet owners who buy the unaltered license also would be required to certify in writing that the dog or cat will not be bred. Breeders still would be required pay for the permit – $300 a year, but the county would waive the fee in many cases.GEORGIAAthens-Clarke County – Commission voted to ban tethering animals to object. The new law requires all dogs and other animals to be housed in an enclosure, such as a fenced-in area with a doghouse,
and no longer allows owners to chain or tether their pets to inanimate objects like trees.
The law came in response to complaints from animal-rights activists and Athens-Clarke Animal Control officers. Commissioners Doug Lowry, George Maxwell and Harry Sims opposed it. (PASSED)ILLINOISSpringfield – new law went into effect Tuesday (01/01/08) to protect pets and animals from domestic violence.  Under the new law, Illinois judges can include animals in orders of protection, just as they would a human being. The bill was passed unanimously in May 2007.Farmington – City Council heard a proposed ordinance for the first time Monday (12/17/07) that would make pit bulls a dying breed in the city.  The ordinance states that no ‘new’ pit bulls can be brought into the city and that current pit bull owners will have to apply for a special license within 60 days of the ordinance. The ordinance was read for the first time Monday and will be presented for a full vote in early 2008. The license would require proof of ownership of the pit bull, a copy of health and immunization records, a certificate of insurance for injury or damages by the dog for at least $500,000 and two photographs of the dog.  The license will cost $100.  Farmington is not a “home rule” city.  The council will vote on the ordinance at an upcoming meeting.  UPDATE: Proposed ordinance banning pit bulls in the city was not on January 7 meeting agenda.  “There has been indication of potential litigation by various organizations, and the cost of a legal defense for this type of lawsuit would not be in the best interest of the citizens of Farmington,” City Administrator Roger Woodcock said in a news release Thursday 12/20/07.KANSASBeloit – BSL was supposedly repealed however, the city council posted a new breed ban via a newspaper posting behind the people’s backs  (no further info provided)Humboldt – City Council members approved a series of sweeping new animal control ordinances that ban ownership of pit bull terriers and rottweilers within city limits.  Only those who had properly registered those types of dogs with the city by Dec. 31 will be allowed to keep the animals and restricts ownership of pit bulls and rottweilers, which the city considers “inherently dangerous” and “a significant threat to the public’s health, safety and welfare.”  Even those who have previously registered their dogs face a litany of restrictions, including: � The dogs mustt be confined indoors or in a secure pen. � Dogs are allowed outside those containnment areas only if they are restrained by a leash and muzzle. � Owners must maiintain at least $50,000 in liability insurance for bodily injury or death and have sufficient “beware of dog” signage. � Dogs must be pphotographed, and cannot be sold or have their ownership transferred to any other person within the city. � Any offspring born to a registered pit bull or rottweiler must be removed from the city within six weeks of birth. � Violators are subject to Humbooldt Municipal Court fines of up to $1,000 and a 30-day jail sentence. Passed 01/07/08Hutchinson – city has added some teeth and a little bit of bite to its updated animal control ordinances – specifically the section on dog licensing fees.  City found a good compromise in drafting the new ordinance. It allows pet owners to pay a higher fee for choosing not to spay or neuter their pets while offering a financial incentive to the owners of pets who do so.   Effective Jan. 1.Winfield – new ordinance requiring the licensing of animals whch require proof of rabies immunization.  Required to either wear the registration tag, or in lieu of that, the owner may provide proof that the animal has been injected with an under-the-skin microchip ID. The number of the chip must be provided at registration time.   Effective 01/01/08Winfield – new ordinance regarding dog pens will take effect on July 1. The ordinance establishing the law reads as follows: “All dogs are to be confined to the owner’s property and not allowed to run free. Confinement can be met by adequately fenced yard, and in situations where the yard is not fenced, the owner shall confine the dog to the home or an adequate outside enclosure. Such enclosure shall be constructed of chain link or other suitable materials with all four sides enclosed. The enclosure shall be of sufficient height to prevent the dog from escaping from the enclosure. The top of the enclosure shall be covered with materials to provide the dog with shade and protection from the elements. The enclosure shall be adequate square footage to provide adequate exercise for the size of the dog confined.”   Effective 07/01/08Winfield – new ordinance restricting the tethering of dogs within the City of Winfield will also take effect on July 1. The ordinance reads as follows:  “It shall be unlawful to keep a dog tethered in place for more than one (1) hour at a time. After a break of not less than three (3) hours off the tether, a dog may be tethered again for one (1) hour. A dog may not be tethered more than three (3) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period.”   Effective 07/01/08 KENTUCKYFrankfort – Pam Rogers of the Kentucky Humane Society commented that come the first of the year they will in fact be pushing for forfeiture bonds on any animals taken.  Irregardless of events, the KHS seems to believe that ‘guilty’ will be the only option.Louisville – After poring over significant testimony, highlighted by a strong consensus that unaltered dogs are not necessarily more aggressive than altered dogs, the subcommittee, in consultation with Metro Animal Services Director Gilles Meloche, agreed on a number of changes.  Among key changes: the revised ordinance still refers to dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs, but removes unaltered dogs from that category. It would allow the MAS director to impose fines on a sliding scale based on income; currently fines are fixed. It would remove restrictions on leash length for all but dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs, which would be limited to four-foot leashes, and it removes the word “permit” from the ordinance. Downard said that was an important change because permit, unlike the word license, implies that people don’t actually own their dogs.  The changes would also become less stringent on people whose licensed dogs get loose; currently those dogs are impounded, but under the proposed changes, the dogs would be returned on the first incident, followed by possible fines for repeat violations.  Changes passed committee 12/19/07.  Two lawsuits are still pending.Louisville – UPDATE:  Progress in Louisville. Due to behind-the-scenes work by some of LKC’s most dedicated  members, the animal ordinance was changed. The changes, though they do not solve all the problems with the ordinance, do improve it vastly. For example: Unaltered dogs are no longer automatically “at risk.” Permits for unaltered dogs have been removed; now all dogs are licensed. Invisible fences are legal for unaltered dogs, and dogs may not be impounded for not having a license on the first offense.  The LKC’s lawsuit against the city is still moving forward, and their top-rated constitutional attorney believes they have a very good chance of winning. This will set a precedent that can be used to dissuade other cities from passing restrictive laws as in the Louisville 2006 disaster.Warren County – citizens’ group has been working for more than a year on a countywide animal control ordinance plans to present its work to Warren Fiscal Court in February.  Amending the standards enumerated then included requirements for regular food and water, adequate shelter, shade and living space, and regular veterinary care.  The draft ordinance doesn’t limit the number of animals that anyone can own, however, should someone have a large number of animals (no number mentioned) capable of breeding, they would need a $100 kennel license and an inspection.  Enforcement of the proposed ordinance would be driven by complaintsLOUISIANAKinder – Police Chief Gary Pelican has asked the town council to consider a ban on pit pullsMAINEAugusta – LD2010 (HP1394) LR 2754 – “An Act To Ensure Ethical and Humane Dog Breeding in the State” – bill seeks to enact measures designed to address the inhumane breeding standards of so-called “puppy mills” in the State. This bill would outlaw the most egregious dog breeding practices and would establish a Maine humane dog breeding standard.  No action in Senate   text available upon requestMICHIGANLansing – lawmakers recently passed legislation that will significantly strengthen penalties for the most severe cases of animal neglect. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released a statement praising this action. The new law, which will go into effect on April 1, will increase penalties based on the number of animals neglected and the accused’s conviction record. For example, someone who is charged with animal cruelty in the neglect of between four and nine animals who has a previous conviction for the charge will face up to two years in prison. Under the new law, those who are charged with abusing 10 or more animals, or who have more than two prior animal cruelty convictions, could face up to four years in prison.Hillsdale – updated animal control ordinance is in the works and the public could see a draft as early as next month.  Outdated in terms of fee structures, policies and practices, statutory changes and multiple issues involving the sheriff’s department’s responsibility for picking up and housing stray dogs.  The proposed ordinance language continues to undergo revisions and corrections.  Possible first reading at first meeting Jan. 8, with a public hearing Jan. 22.Van Buren Township – new pet ordinance draft will be presented to the Township Safety Committee to change their pet ordinance that will include how many pets a household can have and a possible breed ban.  When the proposed pet ordinance was originally discussed last October (at a Planning Commission meeting) a pit bull rescue group was specifically mentioned at the meeting, due to a complaint by a neighbor. At that time, township representatives claimed that this was NOT a breed-specific issue, and that they were not looking to add any breed-specific language to the new pet ordinance. Coincidentally, what was NOT brought up at this meeting – was that the newly proposed pet limit would prevent a local pit bull rescuer from being allowed to obtain a kennel license – simply because the rescuer’s property is located within 100 yards of a school, and also located next to a bus stop.MINNESOTASt. Paul – proposed legislation by Rep. John Lesch, DFL-St. Paul, intends to outlaw five dog breeds from the state – Pit Bulls, Akitas, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, and wolf hybridsMinneapolis – proposal to expand the definition of dangerous or potentially dangerous animals and to add restrictions on owners of such animals is headed to the City Council for a vote. Although most restrictions mention animals generally, it’s aimed mainly at dogs. The amended proposal still makes it harder for some felons to keep a dog that weighs more than 20 pounds or one that’s considered dangerous if mistreated. But an amendment limited that to people convicted of violent felonies within the previous 10 years. An unlicensed dog could be seized in some circumstances.  Still remaining to be worked out before an expected Jan. 18 council vote is whether a dog is dangerous merely if the person keeping it has items or drugs intended to be used to train the animal for dogfightingProctor – proposed ordinance to limit the number of dogs (3).  A “kennel license” would be required for more than six (6) dogs.   text available upon requestMISSOURIIndependence – group of residents are pushing for a ban on pit bullsPalmyra – City Council approved beefing up the city’s vicious dog ordinance and will require is that any vicious dogs within the city limits as of Dec. 20 be registered with the Palmyra Police Department.  That registration must include accurate color photographs and must be done by Jan. 31.  The other part of the ordinance bans any more vicious dogs from being brought into the city limits. Any puppies born to the animals grandfathered in must be moved out within eight weeks of birth.  Ordinance defines a vicious dog as one that “without provocation” has bitten or attempted to bite someone, or one that has placed an individual in fear of injury or killed another domestic animal.  Passed 12/18/07NEBRASKASouth Sioux City – council members passed the second reading of an ordinance that would “put a leash” on dangerous dogs in their town.  If the ordinance passes a third, and final, reading, the new ordinance would require owners of dangerous dogs to muzzle their pets in public.    Those owners would also have to pay a $65 registration fee, put up warning signs on their property, and obtain $250,000 in liability insurance. Council members made one important change. They amended a section, which previously included two classifications… potentially dangerous dogs, and dangerous dogs. The only dog automatically classified as “dangerous” were pit bulls. Only those owners would have been required to obtain the $250,000 in insurance.  Council voted to remove the “dangerous dogs” classification. Now, “dangerous dogs” aren’t separated by breed, but by action.  A “dangerous dog” is defined as one that has bitten or attacked someone, has severely injured or killed another domestic animal, or has been trained for dog fighting.NEVADALyon County – proposed ordinance amendment prohibits acts regarding animal cruelty – ordinance of the code to prohibit certain acts and conditions related to animals.  Proposed the amended ordinance, which adds five paragraphs regarding treatment of animals to Title 7, Chapter 1 (Animals and Animal Services), subchapter 5 (prohibited acts and conditions).  Paragraphs (M-Q) deal with fighting of animals (instigated or baited), injury and overwork, enclosures and restraintsNorth Las Vegas – Ordinance No 2417; An ordinance of the City of North Las Vegas repealing Title 6 of the North Las Vegas Municipal Code regulating animals and replacing the same with a new Title 6, also relating to animals including new and revised provisions governing the licensing, vaccination, running at large and impoundment of animals as well as regulations concerning exotic and vicious animals, animal cruelty and animal care faculties and providing for other matters properly related thereto: Passed and Adopted 01/02/08North Las Vegas – Ordinance No 2418; An ordinance of the City of North Las Vegas amending Title 6 of the North Las Vegas Municipal Code by adding a new chapter (Chapter 16) mandating that all dogs and cats be spayed or neutered except in certain limited circumstances and providing for other matters properly related thereto. Passed and Adopted 01/02/08NEW HAMPSHIREConcord – HB 666-FN – AN ACT establishing a license fee for the sale of animal vaccines  text available upon requestConcord – HB1502 – AN ACT relative to disposal of used (vaccination) needles   text available upon requestConcord – SB375 – AN ACT allowing veterinarians to inform town and city clerks about dogs that have been euthanized.   text available upon requestNEW JERSEYTrenton – A449 – Permits the rabies inoculation of dogs at pounds or shelters under the direction of certain veterinarians    text available upon request.Trenton – A902 – An Act concerning the chaining or tethering of animals, and amending R.S.4:22-17 and R.S.4:22-26  Establishes animal cruelty offenses pertaining to chaining or other restraint of animals    text available upon requestTrenton – A899 – An Act concerning animal cruelty offenses, creating a new chapter of and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending and repealing various sections of statutory law.  Recodifies offenses against animals under State criminal code; increases degree of crime for certain offenses    text available upon requestTrenton – A928 – An Act concerning attack animals and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes    text available upon request.Trenton – A1173 – Requires dogs licensed out of state that are brought into NJ to be licensed in NJ within 60 days, and raises penalties for violations of law requiring licensing of dogs and of kennels, pet shops, shelters and pounds   text available upon requestTrenton – A1414 – An Act concerning instruction on humane treatment of animals, supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and repealing N.J.S. 18A:35-4.1.  Requires public schools to include instruction on humane treatment of animals as part of the Core Curriculum Content Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.    text available upon requestTrenton – A1418 – Prohibits use of certain underwriting guidelines by insurers pertaining to guide dogs, service dogs, or hearing assistance dogs harbored on the insured property    text available upon request.Trenton – A1568 – Requires all cats and dogs released from shelters and pounds be sterilized with certain exceptions; increases certain dog-related fees; dedicates increases to Animal Population Control Fund; establishes new eligibility criteria for State spaying and neutering program    text available upon request.Trenton – A1591 – Prohibits certain breeding and sales practices; requires persons selling cats or dogs to provide certain information; and provides penalties    text available upon requestTrenton – A1828 – Prohibits sale of any dog by kennel, pet shop or other retail establishment without name, address and phone number of person providing dog thereto; establishes $500 fine for each violation    no text availableTrenton – S234 – An Act concerning the “Law Against Discrimination” and revising various sections of the statutory law    text available upon requestTrenton – S358 – An Act concerning animal cruelty offenses, creating a new chapter of and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending and repealing various sections of statutory law.  Recodifies offenses against animals under State criminal code; increases degree of crime for certain offenses    text available upon requestTrenton – S363 – Prohibits sale of any dog by kennel, pet shop or other retail establishment without name, address and phone number of person providing dog thereto; establishes $500 fine for each violation.    text available upon requestTrenton – S617 – An Act concerning animal cruelty offenses, creating a new chapter of and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and amending and repealing various sections of statutory law.   text available upon request.NEW MEXICOValencia County – County Commission, without public comment, passed a ordinance, in the schedule of fees – 9.0.08 licensing fees: sterilized dog or cat $5….intact dog or cat $25 per animal per year in addition to an intact animal permit fee.  9.0.12 Intact Animal Permits: The fee for persons wishing to maintain an unsterilized animal shall be $100 per animal for each intact animal they choose to keep. Permits shall be good for one year from the date of issue and the fee shall be in addition to any license fee or applicable impoundment fee. Intact animal permits shall be revoked, and the animal required to be sterilized at the expense of the Owner/Guardian, if the animal is found to be running at large, at any time, within the county’s jurisdiction, or it is known that the animal has been bred or allowed to breed.  In addition to the use of the term “owner/guardian” throughout the ordinance – nothing regarding the above has been mentioned at the Animal Shelter Advisory Board meetings.NEW YORKAlbany – A1741  (2007) – Authorizes district attorney to petition for posting of security when animal is impounded as result of abuse   (reintroduced in 2008)   text available upon requestAlbany – A1990  (2007) – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the confinement of companion animals in vehicles in extreme temperatures  (reintroduced in 2008)   text available upon requestAlbany – A2610  (2007) – AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to establishing a cause of action in tort for the wrongful injury to or death of a companion animal  (reintroduced in 2008)   text available upon requestAlbany – A6553 – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the tethering of dogs   text available upon requestAlbany – A8032 – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the licensing of dogs and to repeal certain provisions of chapter 115 of the laws of 1894, relating to the better protection of lost and strayed animals and for securing the rights of owners thereof, relating to licensing of dogs in certain cities   text available upon requestAlbany – A8502 – AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of dogs born on puppy farms by pet dealers   text available upon requestAlbany – A9345 – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to companion animal hoarding   text available upon requestAlbany – S0865  (2007) – Authorizes district attorney to petition for posting of security when animal is impounded as result of abuse   (reintroduced in 2008)   text available upon requestAlbany – S1282 – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the confinement of companion animals in vehicles in extreme temperatures   text available upon requestAlbany – S2052 – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the tethering of dogs   text available upon requestAlbany – S3526 – AN ACT to amend the general obligations law, in relation to establishing a cause of action in tort for the wrongful injury to or death of a companion animal   text available upon requestAlbany – S6427 – AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to companion animal hoarding   text available upon requestAlbany – City Council will review a proposal Thursday that addresses prolonged barking, imposes a lease law, and requires cages, fences or other constraints for animals identified as violent. The council will review the concept this week and possibly make changes.  The proposal will change the way people will be required to handle their own dogs, and owners of the two singled out breeds, Dobermans and pit bulls, may  complain about the measure.Town of Westerlo, NY – was prevented from enacting a series of very restrictive codes concerning dogs & cats. Among other things 3 dogs & cats in any combination would be considered a kennel. A local couple gathered 500 + signatures against the 7 page document. At a Town Hall meeting the proposed codes were declared a dead issue. The local Judge sealed the issue by declaring it as killed.NORTH CAROLINAHenderson County – County Board of Commissioners approved a new noise ordinance that will go into effect Jan. 1.  Under the new ordinance, deputies will issue civil citations, impound barking dogs at the county shelter, and even arrest those responsible for violations.  The ordinance says that barking dog will be impounded at the county animal shelter for the second or subsequent violations until the following business day for the shelter. The animal must be reclaimed within five days and fees include a reclaim fee plus an additional fee of $3 per day for each day the animal is at the shelter   Effective 1/01/08Henderson County – proposed ordinance would have required pet owners to have their animals spayed or neutered if the animal violated other animal control rules such as running at large or continual barking. That meant the law would be complaint-driven; animal control officers wouldn’t be patrolling the county looking for unfixed animals.   Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed ordinance earlier this month, plenty of people turned out to criticize the law as too harsh and unenforceable.  Commissioners refused to pass the ordinance and ordered a rewrite.  12/19/07Lincoln – County Commissioners are trying to pass an ordinance that will limit the number of dogs per acre to ten.  The new law will only allow families to have one dog for every 0 .1 acre of land, all because of a complaint a neighbor made about an animal rescue facility located in a patch of farmland near her home.  Defeated 12/17/07OHIOColumbus – HB366 – To amend sections 955.11 and 955.221 of the Revised Code to remove pit bulls from the definition of “vicious dog” in state law and to authorize the adoption of local ordinances or resolutions that define “dangerous dog” and “vicious dog” more broadly than state law defines those terms .   text available upon requestSandusky – City Commissioners decided to be specifically non-specific when it comes to dangerous dog laws.  Commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of a new animal ordinance that does not include breed-specific language targeting pit bull dogs.  Passed 12/11/07OKLAHOMAOklahoma City – state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft confirmed this week he would again author legislation to prevent attacks by vicious dogs.  He plans to write a proposal which is “non-breed specific.” and modeled after similar legislation which passed in Texas.  His new proposal could make a dog’s “first-bite” a felony.  Wesselhoft will introduce his bill when state lawmakers return to the Capitol in February for the 2008 legislative sessionDribble – A woman received two tickets after her goats were caught mating and relieving themselves on her own yard.  City law said it is illegal for any two animals to have sex in public within Dibble city limits.  It’s also against law for them to relieve themselves in public even if the animal is fenced in on private land.Midwest City – after twenty years on the “books” the city is now enforcing an unconstitutional breed specific ordinance.  City is trying to remove two Bull Terriers.  Midwest City is a “home-rule charter city,” which allows it to pass ordinances that may not be in accordance with state law which currently prohibits cities from enacting breed-specific dog bans. .   text available upon requestOREGONMilton-Freewater – City Council proposed amendments to city animal ordinances are meant to strengthen enforcement authority against negligent owners of vicious dogs, code enforcement officer Angie McColley also retooled policy that essentially would ban keeping “livestock” within city limits.  City Manager said the “livestock” section likely would be eliminated, keeping the language pertaining to dangerous dogs.  Under the new proposal a section defining “potentially dangerous dogs.” In the event that a dog commits a vicious act, the owner would be given a final chance to continue keeping the animal.  The owner would be required to pay registration fees, have the dog micro-chipped, spay or neuter the dog and create a photo identification of the dog and its owner. It also would mandate the owner secure the animal in a six-sided enclosure and demonstrate proof of having liability insurance for no less than $100,000.PENNSYLVANIAHarrisburg – HB1065 – Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animals.  The bill also would disallow use of tow chains for tethers, mandate the tether be one that does not become entangled and is a minimum length.   text available upon requestHarrisburg – proposed revision of the Pennsylvania Animal Cruelty law makes it illegal for anyone to own or possess a dog or puppy with a docked tail, unless the person can prove that the tail was docked by a licensed veterinarian or has filed an affidavit of proof with a county treasurer that the procedure was done before the law goes into effect. This draft legislation will be presented to the Dog Law Advisory Board this week, prior to being published in The Pennsylvania Bulletin and submitted to the state Legislature.  The proposed law also would apply to nonresidents of Pennsylvania who are passing through the state, or who participate in field trials, dog shows, performance events or hunting here. Several sporting breeds routinely have their tails docked, following breed standards designed to prevent severe tail injuries while hunting, including Brittanys, German Shorthaired pointers, cocker spaniels, various breeds of terriers and several others. Many other breeds that customarily have their tails docked are as diverse as Australian Shepherds, Miniature Pinschers and Rottweilers.  Animal cruelty statutes carry criminal penalties, and in Pennsylvania are enforced by Humane Society officers, county animal control officers and police officers. The proposed legislation also grants power to state dog wardens to enforce all animal cruelty statutes.Harrisburg – Gov. Rendell will unveil expansive legislation next month designed to crack down on bad kennel operators and improve housing conditions and health care for dogs living in the state’s 2,600 commercial kennels. A draft copy of the proposals, which include changes to existing statutes and regulations, was provided to the Inquirer by an administration source.  Animal welfare advocates say among the most important proposals is one that would mandate the revocation of a license held by an owner convicted of animal cruelty within the last 10 years. Now the Secretary of Agriculture has the discretion to allow those convicted of animal abuse to continue to operate. Another provision would require dogs receive annual veterinary care and bar kennel operators from giving their own rabies shots.SOUTH CAROLINABeaufort – City Council passed a ban on dog-tethering this week gives animal control officers discretion in determining whether pets are being treated cruelly, but a county councilman said the city was duped by animal-rights advocates who hid part of the issue.  The ordinance eliminated the three- and six-hour limits and simply states, “No animal … shall be tethered as a primary means of stationary confinement.”  The new language allows officers to use “circumstantial evidence” to determine if a dog has been chained for a long time.  Councilman Bill McBride kept the item off the agenda of the Community Services and Public Safety Committee, which he chairs, saying tethering dogs is not always cruel.  The issue must be discussed in the committee before going before the full council.Charleston – County Council decided Thursday (12/13/07) to let the Charleston Animal Society charge owners if they want their impounded pets back without being spayed or neutered. It would cost $200 initially to retrieve an animal intact and then $1,000 if the pet is impounded a second time within a calendar year.  County Council voted 7-0 to initially approve modifying its laws for stray animals so the local shelter can charge fees for impounded pets returned without having the surgery.  The fines would apply for any impounded cat or dog. Pet owners would still have the cheaper option of simply having their animal sterilized, which the Charleston Animal Society said typically costs $40 to $70.Florence – to begin open discussions regarding “cruelty” laws  (Tuesday 01-08-08)Richland County – new proposal to try and protect the public from dangerous dogs.  One of the changes may be a restriction on the number of dogs that a person can own.  A discussion will take place at the Development and Services Committee meeting on January 29th.TENNESSEEDyersburg – proposed pit bull ban was sent to the public safety committee and FAILED due to lack of support!! On a motion by Walker, however, the council agreed to call a public hearing to receive citizens input regarding the dog ordinance.   FAILED 12/05/07Johnson – City researching possible pit bull ban with or without a grandfather clause.  City Commission will have the final say on the matter. There is no time table yet for discussion.Knox County – Knoxville – State Senator Burchett not able to enact statewide BSL, still wants local MSN.  He wants individual county commissions to pass legislation that would make clinics like Ms. Price’s required for pit bulls.  He admits there’s much opposition to breed-specific animal control.Mount Juliet – an official is pushing for stronger laws governing dangerous dogs in the wake of an attack that left two dogs dead.  The Wilson County town is among several Nashville-area communities that have looked to strengthen animal control laws in hopes of curtailing attacks as more humans and pets have moved in.Somerville – Update on Pit Bull ban – City administrator Yaun brought to the board’s attention the pit bull ordinance the board passed recently. A problem has been discovered with requiring owners of the dogs to have $100,000 insurance. Yaun told the committee that at this point, the owners have not been able to find anyone who would write the policy. He said he has talked to several companies locally and they are not interested in writing the policy. Yaun was asked to do some more checking and if they can’t find insurance, they may have to revisit the ordinanceTEXASAustin – HB1411 – new state law that prohibits unreasonable restraints for dogs during the late night hours and during extreme weather should help deter animal cruelty.  Owners cannot leave a dog outside and unattended by the use of a restraint that unreasonably limits the dog’s movement between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The law further states that in the event of extreme weather including outdoor temperatures that reach below 32 degrees, or a hurricane, tropical storm or tornado warning issued for the jurisdiction by the National Weather Service, a dog cannot be left outside and restrained by a restraint that “unreasonably limits the dog’s movement.”Austin – City Council could soon hear proposed changes to the laws for dangerous dogs in the community, all in an effort to make owners of dangerous dogs follow the law more closely.  Animal Advisory Commission is considering ways to make dangerous dog owners follow the law at their next meeting.Copperas Cove – proposed ordinance prohibits animals and public sporting and recreational events, make molesting animals unlawful and restrict fishing in the city’s park ponds to pole and line only. Other additions require locks on fenced yards, pens and kennels and require signage for all yards with an unattended dog and include definition of the term “dangerous animal” expanded to include any unprovoked attack on a person or animal causing bodily injury.Dickinson – City Council decided to postpone enacting an ordinance banning the chaining of dogs, so it could review the language of the law.  Council would likely discuss the matter during a work session as soon as late February or March.San Antonio – City leaders embraced proposed changes to the Chapter 5 ordinance today, voting to accept the newly restructured laws. The changes include incentives for sterilization and responsible pet ownership including: � A restructuring of the licensse process that includes the use of permanent micro-chips in lieu of traditional metal tags that are easily lost. � A strengthening of the Dangerous Dog portionn of the ordinnance and the creation of a new Vicious Dog category. � Stifferr penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty mirroring tougher state laws. • The creation of permits for excess animals, litters of puuppies or kittens, unsterilized dogs and cat colonies. � Limits and restriction regardiing methods an animal can be tethered or tied up. A similar state law went into affect Sept. 1.  � A Trap Neuter Return policy that allows resiidents to care for feral cats in their neighborhoods.  The revisited ordinance DOES NOT include mandatory sterilization for all pets. Instead, sterilization will be required for animals that have been declared dangerous, pets that have been impounded more than once and cats that are housed exclusively outdoors. Residents who own cats or dogs they wish to keep them intact can purchase a permit to do so or keep their animals indoors. Many of the proposed requirements actually allow for exceptions based on special circumstances. Examples include excess animal permits, intact animal permits and medical exceptions for animals unable to be sterilized. In addition, there is an appeals process in place for any citizen denied a permit by the department. The dangerous/vicious portion of the ordinance will go into affect immediately. The litter permit, excess animal permit as well as revised permits for pet shop and grooming businesses go into effect March 1, 2008, with implementation of the intact animal permit delayed until Jan. 1, 2009. This will allow for the augmentation of local spay/neuter resources.VIRGINIARichmond – HB5 Gas chambers; prohibits use thereof for euthanizing companion  animals    text available upon requestRichmond – HB40 Gas chambers; prohibits use thereof for animal euthanasia  Disposal of animals by means of decompression chamber or gas chamber prohibited. No animal shall be euthanized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter by means of a high altitude decompression chamber or a gas chamber.      text available upon requestRichmond – HB 158: Dumping trash, companion animals, etc., on highway, right-of-way or private property; penalty   text available upon requestRichmond – HB207 – Animal pounds, local; clarifies definition     text available upon requestRichmond – HB217 Tethering of animals; makes certain acts associated therewith  Class 3 misdemeanor     text available upon requestRichmond – HB457 Veterinarian & animal licensure; repeals requirement to provide  treasurer with rabies vaccination information    text available upon requestRichmond – HB537 – Rabies vaccination certificates; exempts records  sent to local treasurers from public access     text available upon requestRichmond – HB538 – Commercial dog breeding operations.  Bill would define as a ‘commercial breeder’ anyone who “any person who breeds dogs as companion animals and who maintains 20 or  more unsterilized adult females for the purpose of commercial breeding during any 12-month period.” Commercial breeders would be limited to 50 dogs max, would have to be licensed and inspected, keep specific records, facilities would have to meet certain fire safety standards and there would be other restrictions.     text available upon requestRichmond – HB655 – Dangerous dogs; judicial discretion.  No dog that has bitten, attacked, or inflicted injury on a person shall be found to be a dangerous dog if the court determines, based on the evidence before it, that the dog is not otherwise dangerous or a threat to the community.     text available upon requestRichmond – HB656 – Animal protection and fighting – Broadens Virginia’s anti-dog fighting law to cover any animal. It adds a interesting ‘surety bond’ provision     text available upon requestRichmond – HB673 Animal welfare standards.  Bill changes a number of definitions in § 3.1-796.66    text available upon requestRichmond – HB690 – Commercial breeding of companion animals basically would require USDA dealers to also get a license from their localities.   text available upon requestRichmond – HB691 – Animal control officers; inspection of breeding facilities    text available upon requestRichmond – HB999 – Bond for abandoned or cruelly treated animals     text available upon requestRichmond – HB1232 – Failure of dealer or pet shop to provide adequate care; overbreeding; penalty   text available upon requestRichmond – HB1289 – Use of gas chambers for animal euthanasia prohibited. No animal shall be euthanized pursuant to the provisions of this chapter by means of a high altitude decompression chamber or a gas chamber   text available upon requestRichmond – HB1331 – Bill completely revises and reorganizes Title 3.1 of the Code of Virginia which, contains the Virginia Comprehensive Animal Laws   text available upon requestRichmond – HJ163 – Establishes a joint subcommittee of the Senate and House of Delegates to “study issues relating to companion animals.” The findings (whereas’s) at the start include an estimate of 2,784,880 companion animals in VA, that some owners abuse and neglect their animals, that shelters euthanized close to 100,000 out of 230,000 entering animals in 2006, and that violent dogs and dogfighting are addressed in laws    text available upon requestRichmond – SB26 – Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act; adds organized dogfighting as qualifying offense   text available upon requestRichmond – SB498 – A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.1-796.77 of the Code of Virginia, relating to prohibiting the use of gas chambers   text available upon requestRichmond – SB592 – A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 3.1-796.113, 3.1-796.122, 3.1-796.124 and 18.2-403.2 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 3.1-796.125 of the Code of Virginia, relating to animal protection; penalty.  Animal protection and fighting; penalty    text available upon requestWASHINGTONGrays Harbor County – proposed barking ordinance  text available upon requestTacoma – City council will discuss changes to the city’s animal control ordinance on dangerous dogs and problem pet owners. . Expand the definition of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs. Unlike some jurisdictions, the rules don’t address a particular breed of dog, but list the types of behavior that could cause a dog to be labeled dangerous. They include an unprovoked attack that inflicts “severe injury” or kills a person; an unprovoked attack that kills or injures a domestic animal badly enough that it’s euthanized; and keeping a dog for the purpose of fighting. . Requires euthanasia or removal from the city for all dangerous dogs. . Prohibits bringing a dog to Tacoma that has been declared dangerous or potentially dangerous in another jurisdiction. . Creates the designation “problem pet owner.” A person who commits three or more animal control violations in a 24-month period could be declared a problem pet owner and forced to surrender all of their animals. . Makes it a civil infraction to sell or give away puppies or kittens born to an unlicensed animal. Owners would be required to include the mother’s license number in any published advertisements of puppies or kittens. . Enacts a complete ban on roosters in the city limits, a response to complaints about noise. Hens are allowed. . Make it a violation to improperly license a pet (to license an unaltered animal as an altered pet.) . Make it a crime to create or use counterfeit license tags. . Make it a violation to leave animal waste on public or private property, unless authorized. . Make anyone younger than 18 ineligible to license pets.WISCONSINMadison – SB208 and AB567 – twin bills currently under consideration by the Wisconsin state legislature which are being touted as “puppy mill” legislation – unfortunately, they have gathered considerable support based on that alone. But if you actually read the text, it becomes apparent that they aren’t just interested in achieving state oversight of large commercial breeders.  Bill also contains a lemon law that applies to everyone in the state of Wisconsin who sells even one puppy – whether they consider themselves a “breeder” or not. If a person sells a pup with a genetic defect or that is sick or injured, the buyer only needs the say of a vet of their choosing and the seller is automatically guilty of a crime, owes the buyer and their vet three times the price of the pup in reimbursement and medical expenses and the state collects a $3,000 fine. If there are two pups within a year, the fine skyrockets to $10,000 for the second infraction plus prison time! Try to fight this in court and the seller could owe the buyer and their vet six times the price of the pup, plus lawyer fees. No proof required. No judge. No trial by jury. The breeder is not protected from false charges.   text available upon requestMadison – Wisconsin Humane Society Is calling for further legislation to “stop puppy mills” and wants “guardianship” for all dogs.  No formal legislation has been introduced to date. OTHER COUNTRIES OF INTERESTKoreaSeoul – Owners of all pet dogs will have to register with the regional government from next year. They will be also required to attach an identification tag to their pet’s neck.Switzerland Zurich – government wants to make all dog owners in Switzerland liable for damage caused by their pets – regardless of breed. Under a draft law, to be discussed by parliament at a later stage, dog owners would also have to take out mandatory insurance.  Bans on dangerous dogs have been imposed or are under discussion in several cantons, but so far there have been no specific nationwide laws on the issue.United Arab EmiratesDubai – Sixteen breeds of dogs face seizure by Dubai Municipality inspectors if they are found loitering in public places without a leash and a mask. The municipality had issued a notice on November 28 branding as dangerous breeds like Doberman, Rottweiler, Husky, Tosa, Bull Terrier, American Pitt Bull Terrier, American Bull Dog, Miniature Bull Terrier, Argentinean Mastiff, Shar Pei, Old English Bull Dog etc as dangerous.  The civic body stated that these dogs were prohibited in residential areas, public places, markets and shopping centers from January 1.  The notice cautioned that the municipality would seize the dogs after the lapse of the grace period. The notice had sparked protests from canine lovers.  Hisham Fahmi, head of the Veterinary Services Section in Dubai Municipality, said, “These dogs are not allowed in residential apartments. The order has been passed as we were getting a lot of complaints from the people residing in the residential apartments. People going for prayers had complained that these dogs were creating a lot of menace and dirt. Also, there were many cases of dog bites in areas like Jumeirah, Al Barsha, Umm Suqeim and Deira,” he said. “If someone in a particular apartment complains about a dog menace, we would be confiscating the dog immediately. The rule has come into effect yesterday. Also, if a dog is taken in a public park or any public place, it should have a mask and a leash. The dog collar should have its registration number and the dog should have been vaccinated. The municipality would be strict if these regulations are not maintained,” he added. The official pointed out that people in the villas could keep one dog. “Though we would not be visiting all the apartments for checks right now, complaint would be handled in a strict manner,” added Fahmi.

OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO WASHINGTON SB 6315

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATESP.O. Box 1406  Newport, WA 99156Web Site http://www.povn.com/rdows   E-mail  rdows@povn.comBlog https://rdows.wordpress.com  E-mail List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdows Cherie Graves, Chairwoman, WA, (509) 447-2821Judy Schreiber-Dwornick, Assistant to the Chair, Director at Large, rdowsdirectoratlarge@gmail.comHermine Stover, Secretary, Press Liaison, CA, hermine@endangeredspecies.comMary Schaeffer, Finance Director, finedogs@hotmail.comCalifornia Director, Jan Dykema bestuvall@sbcglobal.netIllinois Director, Elizabeth Pensgard bpensgard@yahoo.comIndiana Director, Charles Coffman candkcoffman@comcast.netIowa Director, Leisa Boysen rdows_iowa@yahoo.comMississippi Director, Dan Crutchfield farmer1@telepak.netNevada Director, Ken Sondej 4winds@viawest.netOhio Director, Tiffany Skotnicky ohdirrdows@yahoo.comOklahoma Director, Jade Harris aadrlegislation@yahoo.comTennessee Director, Gina Cotton ginacotton@msn.comTexas Director, Alvin Crow crobx@austin.rr.com OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO WASHINGTON SB 6315 

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States was formed October 15, 1989 to protect the rights, and interests of dog owners. 

 Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States stands in opposition to SB 6315 – 2007-08  Including a wolf-hybrid in the definition of a “potentially dangerous wild animal.” Sponsored by Senator Bob Morton, R, Orient.  The Canine Genome Project proved with DNA testing that all domestic dog breeds are derivative of  Canis Lupis Familaris, a sub-species of the Gray Wolf. In other words, all dogs are wolf-hybrids.  SB 6315 has the potential of creating the unintended consequence of  causing all dogs to be considered “potentially dangerous wild animal”(s) in Washington state. Dog ownership has been archaeologically traced back more than thirty thousand years. Tradition gives animal owners legal standing to own dogs. All animals are the ancient property of human beings. Animal husbandry is among the most ancient of professions. We, the people expect our legislators to protect our rights, and our property, not to remove those rights, and that property. Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States respectfully requests that Senator Bob Morton withdraw SB 6315 from consideration. 

OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO WASHINGTON HB 2511

RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS OF THE WESTERN STATESP.O. Box 1406  Newport, WA 99156Web Site http://www.povn.com/rdows E-mail US rdows@povn.comBlog https://rdows.wordpress.com  E-mail List http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rdows Cherie Graves, Chairwoman, WA, (509) 447-2821Judy Schreiber-Dwornick, Assistant to the Chair, Director at Large, rdowsdirectoratlarge@gmail.comHermine Stover, Secretary, Press Liaison, CA, hermine@endangeredspecies.comMary Schaeffer, Finance Director, finedogs@hotmail.comCalifornia Director, Jan Dykema bestuvall@sbcglobal.netIllinois Director, Elizabeth Pensgard bpensgard@yahoo.comIndiana Director, Charles Coffman candkcoffman@comcast.netIowa Director, Leisa Boysen rdows_iowa@yahoo.comMississippi Director, Dan Crutchfield farmer1@telepak.netNevada Director, Ken Sondej 4winds@viawest.netOhio Director, Tiffany Skotnicky ohdirrdows@yahoo.comOklahoma Director, Jade Harris aadrlegislation@yahoo.comTennessee Director, Gina Cotton ginacotton@msn.comTexas Director, Alvin Crow crobx@austin.rr.com OPPOSITION STATEMENT TO WASHINGTON HB 2511 

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States was formed October 15, 1989 to protect the rights, and interests of dog owners. 

 

Responsible Dog Owners is opposed to Washington HB 2511 as it violates the commerce rights of the citizen bird, cat, dog breeders of Washington. If enacted as introduced HB2511 will cause the importation of pure-bred cats and dogs bred by breeders outside of Washington in order to meet in state demand for pets. HB2511 acts to the detriment of Washington dog, and cat breeders whose ability to breed and sell pure-bred animals is curtailed by HB2511.

 

HB2511 unfairly allows not-for profit organizations to breed, and to sell animals unhampered by regulation. These not for profit organizations are importing animals from foreign nations to fill empty shelters.

(See, Tufts: Filling Empty Shelters

http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/020603FillingEmptyPounds.htm 

See, USA TODAY:  Dog imports raise fears of a resurgence of disease http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htm )

 

Animal Shelters are being shut down across this nation due to diseases that are carried into the United States by animals imported by not-for Profit animal organizations, and animal shelters. (See, Outbreak of Drug-Resistant Salmonella at an Animal Shelter; http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/nov_dec_2004/outbreak_of_drug-resistant_salmonella.html See Animal Shelter Shuts Down Due To Parvo Virus  http://www.kmbc.com/news/8006476/detail.html?rss=kc1&psp=news See, CDC

Human Rabies — Indiana and California, 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5615a1.htm 

See, Disease shuts animal shelter http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-10-Sat-2007/news/12517017.html

 

HB 2511 violates the United States Constitution under the 5^th, 14^th Amendment, and the Commerce Clause.  Washington dog, bird, and cat breeders are not allowed to  sell  as many cats, birds and dogs as the fair market allows. No other part of Washington’s animal breeding industry is restricted by legislation.

 

Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States calls upon the Washington State Legislature to kill HB2511. It is the duty, and the responsibility of the legislature to protect, and defend the rights of the people of Washington. HB2511 is a taking of the property and use rights of Washington’s pure-bred dog and cat breeders.

 

SHELTER DOG, OR PURE-BRED: SELECT YOUR DOG WITH CARE

No matter if you choose to give a home to a shelter dog, or to a pure-bred do your homework. Ask all of the right questions so that both you and your new dog are happy with each other. A dog is a commitment of your time, an investment of your money, and a responsibility for the entirety of the dog’s life.

Most people do not see sixteen years or more stretching out before them when they fall in love with a cute puppy. They only think in the here, and now. Be aware that the beautifully groomed, and impeccably mannered dogs that you see on Animal Planet’s televised dog shows are the products of many generations of selective breeding for stable temperament, intelligence, trainability, and sound healthy body structure. The owners put intensive training, socialization, and meticulous grooming into the dogs to bring them to this example of perfection. Each breed of pure-bred dogs were developed for a particular purpose. Working dogs, sporting dogs, field dogs, terriers, and most hound breeds are high energy, and need lots of exercise.

Select a dog that suits your life style, just as you would select an automobile. If you have a large family, a two seat roadster might make your heart yearn, but it would not be a practical family car. If you have a tiny city apartment a Scottish Deerhound isn’t recommended. Consider not only your lifestyle, but also the dog’s needs. Once you have decided upon a pure-bred dog, next choose a breeder. Take your time. Look for the right person. The one with whom you feel comfortable, one who doesn’t try to rush you into a sale, but reassures you that if you are willing to wait he/she will be willing to work with you to be sure you get exactly the puppy that you want. Do not be in a hurry. Be as selective in choosing a dog as you would be buying any other large ticket item. You will be paying for the dog for the entirety of its life. Think of it as a long term investment of the heart, and wallet.

Pure-bred dogs from reputable breeders come with a registration paper, a pedigree, a shot record, a worming record, a health certificate, and a written contract/guarantee.

If you have decided to open your home, and heart to a shelter dog be just as cautious. Shelters being not for profit corporations do not have to meet the same health requirements as do private dog breeders. They can, and do import animals from China, Romania, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Mexico.(1) These dogs do not have to meet the same quarantine requirements for importation that do the dogs that are bought by private individuals from foreign breeders. In fact shelters are being shut down all over the USA from out of control diseases from imported strays brought in to fill the empty cages.(2) Rabies is a concern.

Although the Center For Disease Control issued a press report claiming to have eradicated rabies in domestic pets in the USA, an 11 year old California boy died from a strain of rabies that there were no medical protocols to treat.(3) Be sure to ask where the dog originated, and try to get proof that the dog is healthy, and has been socialized..(4) Try to obtain as much information as possible. The health, and safety of yourself, and your family comes first. Shelters do not have to guarantee the dog’s health, or temperament, or your safety.

(1) TUFTS: FILLING EMPTY DOG POUNDS (FROM 02-06-03) http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/020603FillingEmptyPounds.htm

 Pet Underpopulation: The Pet Shortage in the US by Laura Baughan

http://spanieljournal.com/33lbaughan.html

(2) Dog imports raise fears of a resurgence of disease http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htm

Outbreak of Drug-Resistant Salmonella at an Animal Shelter http://www.animalsheltering.org/resource_library/magazine_articles/nov_dec_2004/outbreak_of_drug-resistant_salmonella.html

Disease shuts animal shelter (Las Vegas) http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2007/Feb-10-Sat-2007/news/12517017.html

(3) Rabies Treatment Saves One, Does Not Work for All http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,267191,00.html

Human Rabies — Indiana and California, 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5615a1.htm

(4) 8 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Dog Shelters http://www.toybreeds.com/animalshelters.htm

ABC NEWS: 300,000 Imported Puppies Prompt Rabies Scare 

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3765973&page=1

Cherie Graves, chairwoman Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States

P.O. Box 1406

Newport, WA 99156

http://www.povn.com/rdows

http://www.povn.com/rdows/donations.html

https://rdows.wordpress.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UAOA

http://www.unitedAnimalownersalliance.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RDOWS

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT FOR AB1634 – CALIFORNIA’S “UN-HEALTHY” PET ACT

15 December 2007 Recently Amber, a California Healthy Pets Act blogger new to the scene (and to California) wrote “Bill Hemby Chairman of PetPAC has lied so many times about AB1634 California’s Healthy Pets ACT that we lost count.”  Since my curiosity was piqued, I thought I would click on the link.  What to my wondering eyes did appear but a sad-faced doggie behind bars with a message “HE NEEDS OUR HELP.”Now, that’s a surprise.  It is a similar sad-faced doggie just like the ones “used” by the Humane Society of the United States when they are soliciting for their donation du jour.  We all know by now the woman-behind-the-man-behind-the-bill, but please add PETA and the Humane Society of the United States to the list of organizations working fast and furious behind the scenes of California Assembly Bill 1634 to remove Fluffy and Fido from the family photo! ‘Tis the season so I read on.  New blogger (obviously drinking kool-aid from the California Healthy Pet punchbowl) writes:  “LET’S SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.”   Imagine my disappointment when new blogger failed to accomplish her goal.  She presented “lies”.  She presented “facts”.  She did NOT present the truth!! Since I had some time on my hands between decorating the tree and wrapping presents for my dog’s extensive list of canine friends, I thought “I” would help to set the record straight.  I did have to take a break or two to pop more non-vegan cookies into the oven and slice a ham for our holiday gathering with friends this evening, but the importance of setting the record straight kept my fingers busily clicking away on the keyboard. New blogger is most concerned with the nature of PetPAC.  Perhaps new blogger needs to delve more deeply into the nature of Social Compassion in Legislation instead, a key supporter of AB1634.  Principals are Judie Mancuso, her husband Rolf Wicklund, Jane Garrison, and her husband (the chiropractor?) Mark Garrison.  I do think a few of those names are PETA-esque.  I wonder if they are on Ingrid Newkirk’s and Wayne Pacelle’s Christmas card lists.  (Is Christmas a vegan holiday?) Why does Social Compassion in Legislation want to be just a figurehead supporter asking for donations (“click to donate”)?  Wouldn’t you think they would want financial contributors to know all about their good works so that those potential contributors could delve deeper into their pockets this holiday season and SEND MONEY?  If you have free time, google Social Compassion in Legislation.  You will find bubkus! [also spelled bubkes or bupkis … means you will find “nothing at all”] I thought I would share some further insight into the “coalition”.  By the way, I have heard on numerous occasions by Ms. Mancuso that “hers” is a Republican coalition.  Do you honestly think the puppies and kitties care if you vote Democrat or Republican? A recent press event held in Los Angeles by Lloyd Levine and “legendary” television star Bob Barker and members of the coalition informed one and all of the return of this blithering bill.  Senators have had to ask Santa for fax machines throughout the State to accommodate the ensuing piles of SUPPORT or OPPOSITION faxes soon to arrive with the New Year. The Associated Press had another report recently (14 Dec) that I thought I would share with you:  “PRICE WAS RIGHT, BUT THE CAR WAS WRONG, CONTESTANT SAYS” According to a lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, in June 2004, a contestant on “The Price Is Right” guessed that a sports car was worth $33,495 and left the stage thinking she had just won a new 2004 Pontiac GTO Coupe.  In her lawsuit against the game show, CBS Broadcasting, the auto dealership that provided the vehicle and the transportation company that delivered it, the contestant alleges the GTO Coupe she received was not new, as she had been promised, and had been in an accident. When she took the car, which arrived in her home state of Washington in September 2004, in for service the next year, she was told that it had suffered structural damage to the frame and front end, “but the repair work was such that an obvious effort had been made to conceal or hide the damage.”    OOPS! For full text of above referenced AP article, please click here: 

<http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20071214-1638-ca-wrongcar.html>

 Okay, where was I?  Oh, I remember.  Back to setting the record straight. Let’s chat awhile about pet overpopulation.  Do you know that there is actually a SHORTAGE OF ADOPTABLE DOGS in the United States?  Let me repeat for those AB1634 “supporters” who might be reading challenged.  There is actually a SHORTAGE OF ADOPTABLE DOGS in the United States!!   Do you know that there is a prison program offered by the Marin Humane Society?   Oh, I see a potential problem looming.   Perhaps the California Healthy Pet “supporters” are geographically challenged and are NOT aware that the Marin Humane Society is located in CALIFORNIA!!   Perhaps the California Healthy Pet “supporters” are NOT aware that the Marin Humane Society is located in NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, only 100 miles from Santa Cruz, CA, the sacred capitol of all things right with sheltering according to Assembly Member Lloyd Levine and the coalition. What’s that?  You don’t remember Santa Cruz being a role model to emulate?   Just this week it was announced in Santa Cruz County that their Animal Services Authority General Manager, Katherine Vos, was ousted!  Loyal shelter workers staged a sickout.  Both volunteers and employees were AFRAID TO SPEAK TO THE MEDIA … for fear of losing their jobs!   Why is that?  What could possibly be gleaned by this change in command in Santa Cruz?  Someone wouldn’t be trying to “conceal or hide” anything, would they? In response to the article about Katherine Vos leaving Santa Cruz, I thought I would do a bit of my own homework.  Here is some interesting information straight from the minutes of the Santa Cruz Board meetings: Dec 2007:  It is announced that Animal Services Authority (ASA) General Manager, Katherine Vos, will leave in January 2008.  [Was it politically motivated??? ] Let’s go back. April 2007:  Newly appointed General Manager to the ASA, Katherine Vos, is introduced to the Board. May 2007:  Lisa Carter, Executive Director of the SPCA, encouraged the board to endorse the California Healthy Pet Act, AB 1634.  [This is the same woman who just happened to call-in to the recent KGO radio program with Judie Mancuso.  Interesting how Lisa always gets on every radio program that Ms. Mancuso is doing.  To be fair, KGO’s radio host did describe Lisa as “one of her dearest friends.”]   To continue setting the record straight, the County of Santa Cruz took over animal-control services and the bulk of sheltering in 2002 amid a FINANCIAL SCANDAL at the local SPCA.  The SPCA now serves as an advocacy and education group but does NOT handle shelters!! (see below)   Financial scandal?  Doesn’t handle shelters?  OOPS! At the Board meeting in May, Ms. Carter passed out a copy of the California Healthy Pet Act and a list of sponsors and supporters.  Please note the following: BOARD ACTION:   The Board recommended staff put this item on the next agenda for a vote with a copy of the bill and a comprehensive analysis.  [If Santa Cruz has been consistently touted as Lloyd Levine’s “model,” then wouldn’t they jump at the chance to support the bill?  This appears odd to me.] Annette Hogue, Watsonville Shelter Volunteer wanted to show her support for the California Healthy Pet Act, AB 1634.  Sammy Ettenger, SPCA, explained the difference in understanding of the California Healthy Pet Act, AB 1634.  Lynne Achterberg, Project Purr, handed out their newsletter.  [And “still” the Board took no action to “support” the bill despite the fact that Santa Cruz is the RECOMMENDED STATE ROLE MODEL for the California Healthy Pet Act?]  Let’s look further. June 2007:  BOARD ACTION:   Take no action on the bill at this time.  Board directed General Manager to draft a letter with comments in regards to Santa Cruz ordinance verses the AB1634 bill.  [Even though “supporters” were pushing AB1634 down the throats of the Board members via feeding tube, the BOARD STILL TOOK NO ACTION!]  Sept 2007:  BOARD ACTION:  Accept and file report and directed the ASA General Manager to bring back to the board an update on efforts made to decrease the euthanasia rates at the Santa Cruz County Animal Services Authority Shelters.   [What’s this?  Santa Cruz needs to DECREASE THEIR RATE OF EUTHANASIA?  Do you think Lloyd Levine knows about this?  Do you think Lloyd Levine cares?  Let’s go a bit further down memory lane together, shall we?  Gotta set the record straight!] May 2003:  On April 26, 2003 through April 28, 2003, the Santa Cruz Sentinel published an expose of the issues surrounding the Santa Cruz SPCA and how it led to the creation of the ASA.  In addition to the SPCA article of April 26^th, an article regarding the status of the ASA and it’s role in the delivery of animal services was published.  These articles have drawn considerable attention to the agency.  OOPS!!  An expose?  Missing funds?  Corruption?  And shelter shutdown? Sept 2003:  FIELD SERVICES:  In late September, with a full complement of Animal Control staff on board, we will be refining our animal control dispatch services with a training day on the enhanced uses of our Chameleon animal control data base system. In addition to this training, our new clerk/dispatcher will be spending a day at NetCom learning some basic dispatch procedures that can assist us in our own operations. [Hmmmm….. This couldn’t be the same Chameleon animal control data base system that Ed Boks, General Manager at LA Animal Services and California Healthy Pets Act coalition member, is using, could it?  Must be a coincidence.  I do recall reading on a few occasions by another well-researched blogger that Chameleon is Ed’s software-of-choice for “cooking the books”!  Not my choice of words but interesting nonetheless, eh?]    Nov 2003:  Accepted a report from the General Manager.  Animal Control and shelter activity has continued to increase over prior months.  In addition, there has been a noticeable increase in field activity such as animal biting incidents and barking dog complaints.   [What’s this?  Animal biting incidents?  I didn’t think this was possible with spayed and neutered dogs according to Lloyd Levine and Judie Mancuso.  Could this possibly mean that Santa Cruz is failing in accomplishing their goal?  Santa Cruz canines nibbling on neighbors and chomping on the postman and the meter reader?] Here is more from the Board meeting in November 2003. The shelter has gained in traffic through the facility. The latter is reflected in the ASA’s increase in revenue generated in Humane Services, which included adoptions, reclaim fees and other shelter-related activities. Staffing has consistently presented a problem in our response to the workload created by this increase in shelter visits by the public. [It appears then that this is a “revenue generating” bill?  Is that what Levine and Mancuso mean when they say “SAVE MONEY, SAVE LIVES”?  Has Mr. Levine NOT read the part in the Santa Cruz Board meeting minutes that staffing has consistently been presented with problems with the ADDITIONALLY CREATED WORKLOAD caused by MSN?  Isn’t AB1634 the cure-all feel-good bill of the future?] The California Healthy Pets website says communities will be SAFER.  They drool on by informing that “Mandatory spaying and neutering will reduce the dangers caused by roaming stray animals, the transmission of rabies, and injuries from dog bites. Unaltered dogs are three times more likely to attack humans and other pets.”   Since Santa Cruz field authorities state that there is a noticeable increase in field activities such as animal biting incidents WITH mandatory spay/neuter, it would appear that “mandatory” spaying and neutering is DETRIMENTAL to communities and NOT SAFER!   OOPS!   Must be an oversight on the California Healthy Pets website.  I do hope their new blogger is reading this! Here is a link to the recent Santa Cruz Sentinel article “Animal Shelter Workers Protest Leader’s Departure” (12 Dec 2007) <http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/story.php?storySection =Local&sid=51502> It appears the first paragraph explains things quite nicely.  Workers suspected that Katherine Vos resigned Monday “under pressure.”  The article also states that “workers declined to comment to the press on Tuesday in fear of losing their positions.”  Some shelter workers called in sick on Tuesday to protest a decision they said was “forced on them.” Vos, the second general manager to oversee shelters in Scotts Valley and Watsonville since the county agency was formed in 2002, stated “I know there’s been a lot of dissension about me leaving and this is not what I wanted.”  (The shelters house a combined 6,500 animals.) The county took over animal-control services and the bulk of sheltering in 2002, amid a FINANCIAL SCANDAL at the local SPCA. The SPCA now serves as an advocacy and education group but does not handle shelters.  The Animal Services Authority is governed by a board of city and county administrators and law enforcement heads. Only one elected official, Sheriff Steve Robbins, serves on the board.  Vos has worked in animal sheltering and enforcement for more than 25 years, and is vice president of the state Animal Control Directors Association. Before coming to Santa Cruz she worked as chief animal control officer for El Dorado County and chief animal care officer for Sacramento Animal Care Services.   [Wouldn’t you think Santa Cruz would want to keep the VP of the Animal Control Directors Association on their payroll?] Continuing on setting the record straight, here is a link to an article about “Taiwanese” dogs in the State of California. <http://www.cooldoghalloffame.com/rescue-dog-hall-of-fame/prison-program-turns-problem-dogs-into-pets/1377> From the San Francisco Chronicle (14 Dec).  “Taiwan? There are dogs in shelters here from Taiwan? Yes, there are. In some parts of the United States there is a shortage of adoptable dogs, not an overpopulation. Dogs are being imported to the U.S. from Puerto Rico to as far away as Taiwan to fill shelters here so people can adopt them. It’s currently easy to import dogs into the U.S. though, as diseases like the canine version of rabies are eliminated here, more people are worrying about the diseases that such dogs may bring with them into this country.”  [Thanks to Cool Dog Hall of Fame!] “PRISON PROGRAM TURNS PROBLEM DOGS INTO PETS” Last year, Melody was just another typical mongrel from Taiwan: sharp features, pointy ears, curly tail.   [please click on above link for full text of article]  In closing, Santa Cruz MSN is a miserable failure.  No “ifs”, “ands” or “buts” about it.  It failed.  Plain and simple.  However, Lloyd Levine and Judie Mancuso are going to continue beating a dead horse.  By the way, when I asked Ms. Mancuso in October 2007 the following question, “Judie, whose bill is this? Yours? Or Lloyd’s?”  Her reply was swift.  “Why it is MY BILL, of course!  Lloyd is busy with his Senate campaign.”   I had no idea that Ms. Mancuso was now an elected official.  I must have missed that part.  My bad.   The Santa Cruz shelter statistics that are being utilized by the coalition are unverifiable.  Please note that when mandatory spay/neuter was first implemented in Santa Cruz (1995-1997), sky rockets were going off.  Impounds and euthanasia went through the roof.   There is NOTHING “healthy” about AB1634.  This unfunded bill will cost the State of California MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.  The California Healthy Pets Act will NOT save the state ANY money.  It will NOT save lives.  Thousands more dogs and cats will lose their lives in shelter “death camps” needlessly throughout the state! Let’s kick this bill to the curb and get back to what we all love … our companion animals.  Make 2008 the year that this legislation goes to that great big doghouse in the sky. NOW the record has been set straight! Happy Holidays,Brat Zinsmaster P.S.  Please feel free to share this “record” with your Assembly Members and Senators, with your local news media (print and radio), with your local shelters, the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.  Permission to cross post is encouraged!