Director of Animal Welfare Meeting Minutes for October 2, 2005

1.Video presentation of what happens inside our L.A. Animal Shelters by Pamelyn Ferdin of ADL-LA.  A second video showed a home demonstration by members of ADL-LA. Pamelyn would like to show the first video at Neighborhood Council meetings. She emphasized that the in-your-face strategies employed by ADLLA have garnered three articles in LA Times as well as coverage in City Beat and have made possible gains in other areas. Sees No-Kill Shelters as "one issue that is local and winnable in our lifetime."

2. Charlotte Laws - Suggestions re presentations to neighborhood councils: (a) you cannot take every animal issue to your councils so be selective, b) participate with your councils on other issues, c) work thru a committee on your council, d) take copies of DAW articles to your councils, e) let your council know when other councils have passed or may pass a motion. DAWS should attend neighborhood council meetings regularly and keep records of proposals submitted to the neighborhood council so that an ongoing record can be maintained by the group of submitted proposals. Proposals, etc. can be added to the site www.DAWprogram.org

Charlotte discussed Arroyo Seco Council DAW, Lezle Stein's free dog training at North Central Shelter and talked about the new Assistant General Manager (LAAS) job opening..

Charlotte passed out DAW verification form for Councils to sign (documenting acceptance of a DAW by a Neighborhood Council) and a copy of a letter that was sent to the Mayor and LA City Council from the Greater Valley Glen Council regarding the California Animal Commission.

Charlotte passed out copies of Guerdon Stuckey's No-Kill Business Plan for LAAS and copies of her analysis of this plan, then discussed both. Charlotte noted that she agreed with Stuckey's stated goal of 2008 as providing "sufficient amount of time to realize the goal." She felt that "the overall plan is too vague."

Charlotte encouraged all DAWs and potential DAWs to send photos and bios for the website.

3. Also distributed to the group was a copy by the Palisadian-Post of Pacific Palisades on the appointment of Kris Kelly as the town's DAW.

4. Beverly Hills DAW Venita Mc Morris gave a report on the LA County Shelter system and the generally poor conditions at the Carson shelter emphasizing generally "horrible" health conditions. It was noted that the Carson shelter covers 48 neighborhood areas and that additional shelters are needed. Culver City DAW emphasized the importance of repeatedly documenting cases of animal abuse in shelters, etc.

5. Denise Fleck did a presentation on disaster preparedness for animals and distributed copies of a brochure she personally prepared on the subject to the group. She noted that the American Red Cross cannot accept pets in times of disasters. 

Charlotte Laws discussed H.R. 3858 called the Pets Evacuation and Standards Transportation Standards Act (PETS): a new Congressional bill (up for a vote soon) stipulating that every city and county must have plan for evacuation & welfare of animals. She suggested LA & neighborhood councils need to put plansin place. The city should select someone to be the PETS Director - this could be a volunteer person who would coordinate the evaluation from any disaster whether a forest fire, earthquake or even a single apartment building that catches on fire.

6. Eddie Mahger presented his design for a new DAW seal to be printed on DAW business cards, etc. The design was approved by the membership without dissent. It was suggested by attendee R.J. Enright that the raptor bird depicted on the seal be replaced by a pigeon. Mahgher said he would make the change. Everyone agreed that this was a good idea.

7. Olga Fernandez of Mar Vista discussed the mass killing of pigeons and other birds on the rooftop of the building next to hers in Mar Vista. She showed photographs to the group of dead birds, said she has kept bodies of some of the birds in her freezer to be used as evidence. Birds died torturous deaths as a result of glue substance poured on roof by exterminator. Substance is commercially sold and advertised as not harmful to birds. During this emergency she worked with Animal Task Force and South Bay Bird Rescue. She noted that she found Animal Control ineffective and was shocked when she was informed that commercially available glue substances were perfectly legal. She plans to take action to challenge their legal status. "Red" Enright who had a pigeon with him at the meeting told about the history of pigeons and their special connection to the human species.

8. Michelle Sass presented on her experience receiving training this summer as a BHLE officer. She presented copies of a BHLE brochure to the group.

9. George Shea discussed glue traps, noted that he is continuing to hide traps in stores and has eliminated glue traps in four out of five stores in his local area; he issued a call for volunteers to join him, noting that PETA has advised that even ten volunteers would have an impact.

10. Olga Fernandez noted that city ordinances are relatively easy to change & that AR supporters in Orlando, FL were successful in obtaining enough signatures to build a No-Kill shelter by obtaining petition signings outside sports arenas & other public recreational facilities.

11. Pam Ferdin emphasized that while individual actions such as hiding glue traps are commendable, focusing on big picture and one major issues such as getting LAAS to do its job should be top focus and priority. George Shea voiced support for this view. Charlotte Laws stated that people can work together on many important projects and that the DAW program is gaining DAWs, volunteers and supporters every day.

Pam Ferdin recommended attending forum given by Animals Anonymous at Beverly Garland Hotel, Studio City, Nov 5, featuring talk by Nathan Winograd. Charlotte Laws said this is an excellent seminar.

Meeting, attended by 25 DAWS, potential DAWS and supporters adjourned. Next DAWS meeting Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005 at 6 PM at Shalom Printing.