The Minutes:

1. Charlotte Laws introduced the meeting by bringing the group up to date
on the Guerdon Stuckey situation.  A meeting will be held at City Hall
on Jan. 14 during which Stuckey's request for one year's salary as
a settlement to his dismissal will be discussed and voted upon by the
City Council. Charlotte urged DAWS members to attend the hearing.

The newly appointed director, Ed Boks will be addressing the next meeting
of the DAWS on Feb. 19, 2006.  Meeting will be held, as was this Jan. 8 meeting
at 7412 N. Balboa Blvd. in Van Nuys.

2. Missy Woodward spoke re publicity for the DAWS organization. She
explained that articles can often be placed in free community weekly
publications. Attention was called to a recent pro-No-Kill article that
ran in the LA Daily News.  Woodward explained that the News is often
in need of photo-dominated material.  Another suggestion was that the
DAWS program could be publicized by the placing of flyers in pet shops.

3. Jane Garcia presented on the issue of puppy abuse. Various stratagems were 
discussed for dealing with ending abusive and illegal activities. Contacting the Animal
Cruelty Task Force, also the BHLE. Discussion about checking
out the legal aspects involved with taking various actions, such as the filing of
a civil complaint. The following people will be part of the Animal Abuse Committee
(first meeting to be held on Jan 22 at 6 pm)

The Animal Abuse Committee:

David Hernandez 
Kris Kelly
Lisa Reveen
Jeanette Andreas
Charlotte Laws
Christine Montgomery 
Marina Mann

4. Tiffany Krog spoke on the lack of accountability by LA Animal
Control and the various employees of the E. Valley Shelter. She
described an incident that occurred in mid-November in which a
neighbor ran over his dog with his car. Krog said she wanted to
rescue the animal which was subsequently brought to the E. Valley
Shelter. She has attempted to adopt the animal over the past six weeks
with no cooperation from the shelter and to date no success. Shelter
employees and Animal Control appear apathetic and unmotivated. There
appears to be a "No Accountability" problem with Animal Services officers and executives. It is hoped that the appointment of Ed Boks as new Dir.of Animal Services will improve this situation.

5. Rich Mc Clellan alluded to fact that 80% of dogs in E. Valley shelter
are pit bulls. He discussed his attempts to combat illegal dog fighting
in Los Angeles. No success over a period of years. Mc Clellan also
lamented fact that recently people have begun to use pit bulls for
personal protection. Mc Clellan expressed his belief that the most basic
and most obvious solution to the problem would be to require spaying & neutering
of all dogs and cats. Also every animal should be microchipped.

Kris Kelly expressed her belief that animals should no longer be
regarded as legal property and that an effort should be made to
change the law to reflect this. Kelly also advocated the elimination
of pet stores.

Mc Clellan reiterated his belief that the only way to achieve effective
change is by way of the ballot box with animal rights advocates working
to elect politicians who will serve our needs. Charlotte Laws suggested
that animal people themselves should be entering public office.

6. Rich Mc Clellan expressed his belief that it is very important that
the DAWS program have specified goals. What exactly is the DAWS
program seeking to accomplish?  Would it be possible to come up with
a list of ten objectives?

George Shea spoke in support of this position. Shea also said
that as Secretary of the DAWS group he felt it important that
some ongoing record be maintained of Neighborhood Councils
related activities by DAWS. He proposed that DAWS submit regular
monthly e-mails reporting on their activities relative to neighborhood
councils.

Charlotte Laws said that she wants to be sure that the self-determination
of individual Councils and DAWs is not usurped.

Adelita Alvarez suggested a Yahoo-based network among members
as a way to discuss various desirable goals. George Shea expressed
the need for a special meeting on the subject of focusing on and
establishing a set of goals for the organization.  It was decided that
this meeting involving all interested DAWS would be held on Jan. 15
at 6 PM at Shalom Printing.  Notices were to be sent out to all DAWS
re: the meeting.

7. Donna Willinsky, the prospective DAW for Atwater Village
requested that there be an orientation meeting for new DAWS.

8. Lezle Stein spoke re free dog training classes at an event at Herman
Dog Park in S. Pasadena sponsored by the Sam Simon Foundation.
Volunteers are needed to help at the event.

9. The meeting was adjourned. It was subsequently announced by
Charlotte Laws that the next DAWS meeting, at which new Animal Services
director, Ed Boks will speak, will be at 6 PM on Feb. 19 at 7412 N. Balboa
Blvd., Van Nuys.