DAW Meeting Minutes

March 4, 2007

The following people were in attendance:

Charlotte Laws

Cliff Jacobs

Scott Sorrentino

Curt Steindler

Ann English

Lisa Haberman

Tina Reynolds

Jeanette Andreas

Sherry Brewer

Brian Kessler

Coby Siegenthaler

Noor Pekala

Mark Haberman

Presentation by Charlotte Laws about the history of no kill in the United States.

Discussion of AB 1634 and ideas for presenting the legislation expediently to the neighborhood councils. Cliff Jacobs agreed to present on the details about the legislation at the next DAW meeting. He will draft a possible letter for NCs to review. Take the issue to the LANCC Committee.

Discussion about raising the limit of animals per property. Discussion about raising limits vs. no limits at all. According to Scott Sorrentino, studies show that there are fewer problems with “no limits.” Standard should be care and not numbers. Animal Commission is working on the cat limit issue because it does not need council approval as the dog limit does. Dog limits trigger zoning laws. City attorney has been looking over this proposal for 10 months; he needs to be nudged.

Discussion about the shelters. Chart and info on boards when people walk into the door so they know what they are getting into. Commission to approve the language.

Some of the shelter volunteers will put together a list of changes that are needed in the shelters. This information can then be taken to the commission, neighborhood councils, etc. Volunteers report that animals are being killed for no reason. Employees think volunteers are animal wackos; there is tension between the two groups.

There is a no hire policy in the city. This hurts ability to replace current workers with others.

Discussion about generating letters from NCs asking that DAWs be permitted to check the conditions in the shelter. Checklist for cleanliness.

Sherry Brewer and Brian Kessler (volunteers at LAAS) said they would consider being Assistant DAWs. They do not have the time to be DAWs.

Disaster preparedness for animals to be added to the DAW “to do” list.

LAAS needs locations for adoption events. Sherry Brewer offered the Bird Café in Hollywood. Charlotte is looking into Sherman Oaks Fashion Square and Woodland Hills mall. The dog park was discussed as well as a big lot just south of the Northridge mall.

Christy Metropole of Stray Cat Alliance is the speaker for the next meeting. Tangible goals for DAWs will be emailed around for suggestions. Each quarter there will be a DAW speaker.