DAW REPORTS FOR JULY 2006
Please send DAW reports to the DAW Secretary Mr. George Shea at gvbshea@aol.com 

Greater Valley Glen Council DAW Report – July 2006

 
Subimitted by Charlotte Laws
 

Interviewed in the UCLA Bruin and United Press International (UPI) about animal issues. The DAWs were mentioned.
 
Made Neighborhood Council presentations at the following Neighborhood Council meetings: Downtown Neighborhood Council and Pacoima Neighborhood Council. Planning to present in a few days at the Del Mar Neighborhood Council meeting.
 
Updated the DAW website and sent DAW updates to all members.
 
Planned the July DAW meeting at my house and showed the movie “Behind the Mask.” Provided food and drink for this meeting.
 
Attended the general Greater Valley Glen Council meeting and two committee meetings for the council.
 
Got approval from my Council to present the DAW group to the LANC Congress and to ask all NCs to join.
 
Helped a baby duck get to Lake Balboa.
 
Regularly fed the stray cats at a vacant property (who had been abandoned by previous tenants) and got proper cages to have them spayed/neutered in the next couple of weeks.
 
Went to a meeting at the VA Hospital with Jeanette Andreas (North Hills West DAW) regarding the cats and coyotes on the property.
 
Spoke on the phone about animal issues with stakeholders and DAWs.
 
Acted as DAW President.

 >
To: <drlaws@adelphia.net>
Subject: DAW Update
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:36:51 -0700

Dear DAWs and Animal People,

 
1. We had a successful DAW meeting last night. The minutes can be found on the website at http://charlottelaws.org/DAW%20Minutes%20July%2030%202006.htm
 
2. Please forward any agenda items for next month’s meeting.
 
3. I will be making a brief presentation about the DAW program at the Del Rey Neighborhood Council meeting on August 8, 2006 (6:30 pm at 7166 West Manchester in Playa Del Rey 90293) if any DAWs would like to attend. Last night there was discussion about how DAWs want to attend NC meetings to support other DAWs and the organization. In light of this, I will let you know when and where a DAW presentation is being made.
 
4. Please forward your monthly DAW Report; you can simply answer the following questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________  
LISA REVEEN LAKE BALBOA/WEST VAN NUYS DAW REPORT


a. Your Name :Lisa Reveen

b. I am the DAW for: Lake Balboa/West Van Nuys

c. During the month of July 2006, I did the following: Rescued a bird, a dog, a cat... continued caring for my other rescues...  assisted others in rescue.  Educated people about animal issues.

d. Did I attend a Neighborhood Council Meeting or City Council Meeting? Yes

Any comments on this: no, other than we are working on emergency preparedness for people and animals.

e. Is there a special project I'm working on? Trying to raise money to help people pay for animal emergencies.

f. Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do? Learn about all animal issues.  If we claim to be Directors of Animal Welfare, we should be well versed on ALL animal issues... not just dog or cat issues.
 Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do differently? Yes,Same as above.  Watch documentaries, educate everyone we come in contact with about the plight of animals... but we can't very well do that if we ourselves don't know. 

g. What do I like most about the DAWS? That we are trying to help animals.
 
            h. What do I like least about the DAWS? The same as in f above.  That we don't educate ourselves or        keep in contact with each other or go to meetings.  (well some of us do).
 
   
Keep in mind that your DAW Report will be published on the Internet unless you ask us not to post
it.            
 
5. Email from a woman who lost her dog…. Please contact her directly if you can help.
 
Hi, Jane Garcia gave me your email.  I am a fellow volunteer from the South L.A. Shelter.  My beloved dog Nico was lost in the Silverlake area July 21st. I have posted thousands of flyers with a $1,000. reward and have heard nothing; I therefore believe that someone picked him up and he is out of the area. I attached a flyer; can you please pass this info on to everyone you know and mention it at a DAW meeting? [I also know Kris Kelly from networking dogs].  I am so desperate for news of my dog who was my life.
Thanks, Chela  77dognights@sbcglobal.net  (See attached photo and flyer)  



><< lostSilverlakeDogJuly2006.doc >>
_______________________________________________________________
                    MISSY WOODWARD  RESEDA DAW REPORT
4. Please forward your monthly DAW Report; you can simply answer the following questions:
 
a. Your Name: MISSY WOODWARD

b. I am the DAW for: RESEDA

c. During the month of July 2006, I did the following: DID ARTICLE FOR “RESEDA NEWS” SUPPLEMENT TO THE DAILY NEWS ON PROTECTING ANIMALS IN THE VERY HOT DAYS OF SUMMER.  
RECEIVE CALLS ON AN ON-GOING BASIS FROM THE ‘RESEDA NEWS’ AND FROM BOARD MEMBERS ON ISSUES SUCH AS HELP WITH FERAL CAT TRAPPING, LOCATIONS FOR LOW COST SHOTS AND BARKING DOG ISSUES.  

d. Did I attend a Neighborhood Council Meeting or City Council Meeting? Any comments on this: YES, REPORTED ON DESIRE TO START “RESEDA RESCUE ROUNDUP” TO HELP STOP FERAL CAT OVERPOPULATION.  CREATING FORMAL REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO COMPLETE SPAYING/NEUTERING OF FERALS TRAPPED IN RESEDA TO BE RE-RELEASED IN THE AREA.

e. Is there a special project I'm working on? (SEE “D” ABOVE)

f. Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do?  Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do differently?  TO SPECIFICALLY FOCUS ON THE DAW ISSUES AT HAND, VOTE IN ORDERLY FASHION ON SPECIFIC ISSUES AND MAKE RESOLUTIONS TO AFFECT CHANGE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT.   KEEP PERSONAL AGENDAS TO A MINIMUM.

g. What do I like most about the DAWS?  INFORMATIVE GUEST SPEAKERS AND LARGER MEETINGS.
 
h. What do I like least about the DAWS? STILL LACK OF COHESIVE INFORMATION THAT CAN BE SHARED BY ALL TO USE AS RESOURCES WHEN COMMUNITY CALLS FOR INFORMATION ON ANIMAL ISSUES;  LACK OF FULL SUPPORT OF THE DAW MEMBERS  AT MEETINGS; LACK OF TRUE MISSION STATEMENT.
(Charlotte – I will send ideas I discussed with Jeff to you under separate cover)  

Keep in mind that your DAW Report will be published on the Internet unless you ask us not to post it.
 ______________________________________________________________
ALEX KYRKLUND  LONG BEACH DAW REPORT


Original Message ----- From: alex
To: 'Charlotte Laws'
Sent: Monday, July 31, 2006 10:49 AM
Subject: RE: DAW Update

a. Your Name: alexiea Kyrklund

b. I am the DAW for: long each

c. During the month of July 2006, I did the following: adoptions and the placement of many animals deemed unadoptable

d. Did I attend a Neighborhood Council Meeting or City Council Meeting? Any comments on this:

e. Is there a special project I'm working on? working on a new special needs adoption monthly event

f. Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do? work on a way that we can list all those that dump animals at the pounds so that they cannot adopt again

 Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do differently?

g. What do I like most about the DAWS?
 
            h. What do I like least about the DAWS?
 
Alexiea
www.n-a-a-r.org


_______________________________________________________________________
TINA REYNOLDS  HOLLYWOOD STUDIO DISTRICT DAW REPORT

4. Please forward your monthly DAW Report; you can simply answer the following questions:
 
a. Your Name: Tina Reynolds

b. I am the DAW for: Hollywood Studio District

c. During the month of July 2006, I did the following:

I responded to an e-mail about a woman who has been chaining up her dogs in the front yard with them repeatedly getting lose and running the streets. neighbors want to call animal control. A concerned neighbor contacted Chow Rescue who contacted me. The elderly owner was taken to the hospital and dogs were locked in the house for 24 hours so with the approval (more or less) of the police, we removed the dogs and boarded them at Bark (paid by neighbor) until the woman came home from the hospital. I checked in with her this morning and am offering to help obtain free fencing so she can fence her yard and allow the dogs to run instead of chaining them up.

I responded to a call about an abandoned Chow in the valley(again via Chow rescue). Elle Whittlesbach and I tried to catch the dog, but to no avail. I am told he was caught by animal control 2 days ago. Elle is keeping an eye on him and will pull if he does not get adopted and try to re-home him.

I transported 9 puppies from San Gabriel Shelter to a foster in Newport Beach for Sheila (Long beach DAW) Choi's rescue. I transported 3 dogs from East Valley to Orange Count for Cathy Nyugen, who will hopefully become interested in becoming a DAW. I also picked up some crates from Silverado Canyon and transported to the valley for the Kris Kelly Foundation to help with a dog adoption. I did all of the above on the same day! Gadzooks!

I helped fundraise for a lab/pit mix to be rescued after being surrendered by owner. He will be trained and re-homed by Brandon Fouche.

I have accrued about 60 feet of 6 ft fencing from various FREE ads on Craig's List. Sheila Choi and I have been working together on a report about 4 dogs being tied up in a Carson backyard. Sheila spoke with the family last week. They are receptive to our building a run for the dogs. We have contacted Best Friends Brigade to see if they will help us erect it (this is what they do).


d. Did I attend a Neighborhood Council Meeting or City Council Meeting? Any comments on this: No. I only found out the date 2 days prior after e-mailing to get the date a month ahead of time and I had scheduled clients at my office. I only have one council member's contact info. I will get everyone's else at the next meeting, which I have the date for in advance this time.

e. Is there a special project I'm working on? I am going to work on an adoption with LAAS in fall. I also want to push the Guardian Campaign. I am hoping to join my council as a member. I am going to write a letter to Dr. Michelson about his foundation and see what it's purpose will be. If he isn't building a facility, I will try to convince him to do so. I am flying to Chicago today and will personally deliver a letter to Oprah begging her to do a show about animal rescue and the shelter system. I'm now a believer that the shelter is not the problem, the people who relinquish the dogs are the problem. I want to work on education and awareness. And work on becoming No Kill! If I protest and/or go on a hunger strike will it help? (minus the weight loss, I mean!)




f. Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do?  Is there anything I would like to see the DAWS do differently?

I want us to be more politically active as a whole. Instead it's more about what each person wants to do, not a focused effort as a group.


g. What do I like most about the DAWS?
 
            h. What do I like least about the DAWS?
 
Keep in mind that your DAW Report will be published on the Internet unless you ask us not to post it.
 
5. Email from a woman who lost her dog…. Please contact her directly if you can help.
 
Hi, Jane Garcia gave me your email.  I am a fellow volunteer from the South L.A. Shelter.  My beloved dog Nico was lost in the Silverlake area July 21st. I have posted thousands of flyers with a $1,000. reward and have heard nothing; I therefore believe that someone picked him up and he is out of the area. I attached a flyer; can you please pass this info on to everyone you know and mention it at a DAW meeting? [I also know Kris Kelly from networking dogs].  I am so desperate for news of my dog who was my life.
Thanks, Chela  77dognights@sbcglobal.net  (See attached photo and flyer)  <lost Silverlake Dog July 2006.doc>

_______________________________________________________________  
          July DAW Report -- George Shea Studio City DAW

I encouraged the writing of letters and the placing of phone calls to
the CEO of Home Depot in Atlanta to urge Home Depot to stop selling
glue traps. I also contacted friends & fellow DAWS urging them to write
and/or phone Home Depot.

I did not attend the reg. monthly meeting of the SCNC om July 19.
Previously I had made a presentation to the SCNC on behalf of Robin Seidel,
the SCRC Daw who contacted me re the placing of additional trashbarrels on the soutyh side of Ventura Blvd for the benefit of dog walkers. As Robin was not
available to meet during the month of July, I postponed action on this matter
until Aug., 2006.

I also collected testimony and gathered reports re the Chow Bella Pet
Spa in Studio City. I was contacted by Victoria Vallejo regarding an incident
involving her pet at Chow Bella. i also had conversations and exchanged
e-mails with Cynthia Bain and others who collected evidence re Chow Bella.

On July 14, 2006 in my capacity as Secretary of the DAWS, I attended
a meeting on the grounds of the Veterans Administration in North Hills.
I recorded the meeting, took notes, and remained in contact with the
attendees throughout the month of July. I was successful in setting up a telephone
meeting for LAAS Gen. Mgr. with Chuck Dorman, the Director of the V.A. facility.

My notes of the meeting on 7/14/06 follows:

Minutes of Meeting at VA Greater LA Healthcare System, Bldg. #1, 16111 Plummer Street,  North Hills, 10 AM, Friday, July 14, 2006.

Participants:

Robert Gutierrez, Special Ast. to the Director, 818-895-9500

Ed Boks, Gen. Mgr. Los Angeles Animal Services 310-210-1683 eboks@ani.lacity.org

Wendell Bowers, Wild animal control, Mgr. of the East Valley Animal Shelter.
818-756-9323  wbowers@ani.lacity.org

Jeanette Andreas, North Hills West Neighborhood Council DAW

Martha Waite, MS, Director Team Training & Geriatric Social Work. 818-895-9311, marti.waite@med.vc.gov

Christi Metropole, Feral Cat Alliance, Los Angeles, 310-283-6235 (Private)
cmetropole@yahoo.com

Marlene Goodman, DAW, Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council.

John C. Detwiler, Committee at Sepulveda, 818-425-8850

George Shea, Secretary, Directors of Animal Welfare, DAW Studio City
Neighborhood Council.

     Meeeting began with general discussion of feral cat activity  and presence of
coyotes on the grounds of the Veterans Administration in North Hills.

     Martha Waite began by explaining that at the last meeting (June 23) ideas
were discussed such as trying to trap the feral cats, test them for diseases,
eliminate the unhealthy ones and spay and neuter the rest.

     Bob Gutierrez explained that recently his office had received a call from the
security police on the grounds to the effect that recently there had been increased activity by the coyotes on V.A. grounds.

     Wendell Bowers explained that the coyote increase was only seasonal, that
currently the coyote parents are teaching their new offspring how to acquire
food, etc., that by October/November, the young coyotes are going to disperse
out into other areas. No new coyotes are likely to be moving into the area as coyotes are territorial and the coyotes now in the territory will keep out any new coyotes.

     Martha Waite explained that at the previous meeting, plans were discussed  for reducing the size of the coyote population on the grounds. One plan put
forward was to fence off feeding areas, to set up "protected feeding
areas" that coyotes would not be able to penetrate. The feeding stations would be
large enough for cats but not large enough for coyotes. Another suggestion
was that feeding times would be limited to 20 minutes in the morning and also
a short feeding period later in the day and feeding bowls would not be out
at other times.

     Bob Gutierrez announced that Chuck Dorman, Director VA Healthcare Systems, has made a decision to remove all feral cars from the grounds of the V.A. by August 25, 2006.

     Jeanette Andreas and others will have until that date to find other spaces and/or adoption homes for the various feral cats. Any cats still inhabiting the grounds on August 25th, will be removed by a designated contractor.

     Gutierrez was asked why Mr. Dorman had come to this decision. In response,
he cited the growing number of coyotes on the grounds as well as the effect of the situation on patient care. Gutierrez stated that the situation appeared to be
out of control with a lot of people trying to feed the feral cats.

     Ed Boks, Gen Mgr. of LAAS responded by stating that in his opinion and experience, such a plan would be "doomed to fail."  He explained that removing the cats would create a "vacuum situation" and new feral cats would simply move into the area and would reproduce at a much higher rate to compensate for the loss of the removed animals. "Instead of producing one litter of three kittens per year, the female cats will produce an average of three litters of nine kittens each per year. Boks also made the point that, in any event, coyotes will continue to inhabit and visit the area and that removing the cats is unlikely to seriously reduce their numbers,
that, actually, it would have a reverse effect and only exacerbate the problem.

     Boks also explained that the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) program had been successful in keeping feral cat populations down on many university campuses in the U.S. and advanced the view that only a TNR program would be effective in reducing the size of the feral cat population. Boks explained that the TNR plan had beeen successful in reducing feral cat populations during his tenures as Dir. of Animal Services in Miracopa County (Phoenix) Arizona and also as Dir. of Animal Services in New York City. He advised that simply exterminating the existing feral cat population will only result in "an explosion" of the cat population.

     Martha Waite expressed the view that patients at the V.A. have developed
relationships with various feral cats and would be very emotionally upset by their destruction. She added that the feral cats were also highly effective to keeping down
the rat and mouse population.

     Bob Gutierrez responded by saying that the V.A. already had an ongoing contract
with an outside vendor to deal with unwanted rodent pests.

     Christi Metropole explained that her group, the Feral Cat Alliance, had a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard. A Coast Guard facility had exterminated a resident feral cat colony with the result that it suffered from a severe influx of wild rats. Goodman explained that, at the Coast Guard's request, her group reintroduced feral cats into the area and that the rat overpopulation ceased to be a problem.

     Ed Boks added that the LAPD uses feral cats for the same purpose. Every
police precinct house uses feral cats to keep rats and mice to a minimum.
He also mentioned that feral cats were very successful during his tenure in
New York in eliminating wild rats on the grounds of the Rikers Island Penitentiary.
Guards were no longer afraid to look in high grass for escaped prisoners for
fear of encountering wild rats.

     Christi Metrapole, head of the Feral Cat Alliance conceded that Mr. Gutierrez and the V.A. was "in a tough position" on the feral cat issue but that the Feral Cat Alliance and other Animal groups such as the Directors of Animal Welfare and In Defense of Animals were "not going to go away."

     Ed Boks stressed that while a constructive "TNR" program is likely to produce
a positive reaction in the media, the wholesale destruction of the V.A.'s feral
cat population would very likely accomplish the reverse. "It's very difficult to get positive press out of killing cats."

     Wendell Bowers explained that feral cat and coyote population management
is "an ongoing process. You just can't trap cats and that's the end of it."

     Martha Waite added that if these issues are not handled constructively, the result would be "a lot more activity and headches for everyone. If we could even have a brief 15-20 minute conversation with Mr. Dorman, it would be very helpful.

     John C. Detwiler entered the following statement: "I've worked in psychology and chemical depression and I have discovered there is a certain cadre of human beings that will abuse anything. If word gets out here that animals are being exterminated, that animals are of no value, you're going to see some sociopathic behavior, I promise you."

     Ed Boks added that "There's consequences for every decision we make. One of the reasons Mayor Villaragosa recruited me to come here from New York was to help
elevate the humanity and the human-animal bond in the community. Why were so many animals simply being destroyed in our shelters? So I'm trying to fulfill a mayoral directive for Los Angeles County -- This flies in the face of what your host county
is trying to accomplish."

     Bob Gutierrrez assured Boks that he would give Mr. Dorman his name and phone number to contact him about the issues.

     Boks added that Mssrs. Dorman and Gutierrez "would find tons of information on our website, LAAS. Up until now I personally have been trying to deal with a very large problem. What we have suggested is a community of people who will be looking to bring in resources and develop a humane non-lethal solution that's going to make the V.A. and Mr. Dorman a local hero, if not a national hero. That's what we accomplished in Miracopa County in Arizona, the creation of a national model that people are talking about all over the country.  We simply have to try something different. What's happened up til now simply hasn't worked. We're suggesting something diffedrent.
TNR. which is a much more coordinated approach."

     Captain Wendell Bowers added that,  speaking on behalf of the East Valley Shelter, I will not be coming out here to trap cats."

     Jeanette Andreas added that "these cats are not sick. They've all been cleared. They're all in good health."

     Christi Metropole suggested that It might be possible for her organization to take ten of the cats and give them to the Coast Guard for their project.

     Bob Gutierrez responded by saying "that is something I can discuss with Mr. Dorman. In any case, we we want to give the first opportunity to Jeanette Andreas as she's been very close to the cats."

     The issue of the animal research facilities on the V.A. grounds was introduced.
Bob Gutierrez noted that there were concerns that some of the research animals might escape.

     Ed Boks expressed his opinion that "Typically, if the proper precautions are taken, there is no contamination."

     Christi Metrapole added that certainly she was not suggesting that more feral cats
be added to the existing population. She added that the Feral Cat Alliance could
arrange to have all the feral cats vaccinated.

     Wendell Bowers added that "even if you temporarily eliminate all the cats,
coyotes will still be on this property."

     Martha Waite asked, "What is our next step?"

     Bob Gutierrez responded that he needed to talk to Chuck Dorman.

     Martha Waite noted that "Bob Guiterrez is working ten to twelve hours a day, also
on weekends. We all know how difficult it is to solve a problem when it's a piecemeal plan. Everyone here is talking about an organized plan. I think it could make for a better solution."

     Marlene Goodman said that she would refer the situation and the V.A.'s plan
to Police Chief, Bob Pappa of the Anti-Cruelty Task Force. She asked
Bob Gutierrez if Mr. Dorman's plan could be stated in writing on official
stationery so that it would be on the public record.  She said she felt this
was important so that she could bring the matter to the attention of
various public officials, the appropriate assemblyman and State Senator for the district as well as the Los Angeles City councilmember and as the U.S.
Congrssional representative.

     Bob Guiterrez responded that he expected to meet with Mr. Dorman on Monday
afternoon, July 17.

     The meeting was adjourned.

     George Shea, Secretary, Directors of Animal Welfare, Los Angeles