Minutes for DAW Meeting April 15, 2007

Christy Metropole of Stray Cat Alliance gives presentation about trap, neuter, release. She tells how she got started and what DAWs can do to help stray cats. Carol with her organization fixes about 400 – 500 cats per year. She changed the name from Feral Cat Alliance. Cats are feral and house cats in the same lifetime or in the next generation. To tell if a cat is fixed, one looks at the ear – it will be cut straight across by the vet (ear tipping). Cats are the number one animal impounded and killed in the shelters.

It is not easy for vets to know if female cats and dogs have been spayed. They look for a scar. If they don’t see one, they may open the animal when the animal has already been fixed. Idea of tattooing an S on the stomach of the animal.

Reseda DAW Missy Woodward is asking her council to help fund traps and to help with TNR. Missy wants to add feral cats to the DAW goal list.

AB 1634. Letter was sent to Scaramento from DAWs. Letter now going out to the LA City Council from DAWs. SM City Council needs a letter, too. Alarcon is against AB 1634 currently as is Rosendahl. Every business is required to have a license so why should breeders be different? This is nothing more than requiring a license. Breeders simply don’t want to pay is the argument..

LAAS Volunteer program – Sherry Brewer discussed how she was dismissed from East Valley shelter. Can’t give adoption counseling to the public. There are other unhappy volunteers. Ed Boks said LAAS is reviewing the volunteer program and they are providing staff with customer service training. Ed talked about the “secret shopper” idea. All reports should be sent to Ed with name of employee, date, time, witnesses, etc. Valley Village DAW Scott Sorrentino says that there have been mistakes made by LAAS in the volunteer program, so the slate should be wiped clean. They should start over, reinstate everyone and let them know the rules. There are 3 – 4 people who are victims of a process that did not work.

Ed wants to speak to all NCs who are interested. Humane LA Task Force which the mayor supports. This involves city departments working together.

Discussion about increasing the dog and cat limit. It will happen first for rescuers. It is harder to do it for the ordinary person due to zoning.

Joanna Patrice with CARE spoke about doctor with the Devonshire Animal Hospital who does not understand the testing process and who is killing cats unnecessarily. He is saying they have AIDS without any proof. She spoke to Ed about having the LAAS head vet write a letter. DAWs discussed going to talk to him, but people did not think a vet would listen to a bunch of non-vets. The LAAS head vet will be asked to send a letter to all vets on the LAAS list about the proper testing procedures.

Beverly Hills DAW Kris Kelly spoke about a woman who needs a fence because the neighbor is harassing her dogs.

Mike Bell spoke about sedating dogs prior to euthanasia. He has letters from vets who support this practice. The agenda item will come before the Commission in June. He says private vets and rescuers sedate animals first (unless they are very old or sick). Milwaukee, Wisconsin uses a sedation process. The sedation drug is cheap. The acepromozine (sedation drug) can be placed inside a dog treat. Also, animals should be euthanized alone, in a room without any other animals present.  LAAS animals are killed in the hospital where there are other animals. Bel Air DAW Adele Langdon said the new shelters will have separate kill rooms.  Ed Boks’ email and comments were discussed and refuted by Mike Bell. DAWs wanted to be sure they had fully heard the other side of this issue before voting so the vote was postponed until the May meeting on this issue. At that time, DAWs will consider whether to support a 6 month pilot program at one shelter. It seemed as though the reason LAAS was resisting this idea was because it takes more time and manpower to kill the animals when a sedative is used, but DAWs are awaiting the other side of the issue. Bell is also asking for more evening meetings for the Commission.  

DAW comments and public comments. Meeting ends.