CHARLOTTE LAWS - DREAM AND ACHIEVE TOGETHER  

HOME
BIOGRAPHY
OBJECTIVES
ISSUES  
OPINIONS 
MEETINGS
EVENTS
 HISTORY
PUBLICATIONS
NONPROFIT
PHOTOS 
ARTICLES 
PRESS 
LINKS
CONTACT US 
GVGC SITE 
New BLOG 

Animal Issues

I believe in being a voice for the animals as well as the people of California and to represent their interests to the best of my ability. All living beings have interests, and those interests should be taken into consideration when making policy decisions.

As the founder of the Director of Animal Welfare (DAW) program, as the DAW for Valley Glen, and as the president of the League for Earth and Animal Protection (LEAP), I am well-acquainted with animal issues.

Animal Shelters:

Animal services departments around the state must foster relationships with the community and move their shelters in the direction of no-kill. The city of Los Angeles alone kills between 30,000 – 50,000 animals per year. An aggressive spay-neuter plan in conjunction with a comprehensive adoption program is the answer. No-kill strategies have been successful in both urban and rural communities in America; it is time for the state as a whole to join this compassionate and progressive trend.

Achieving no-kill will spare animal lives, reduce taxpayer costs (as it can cost up to $250 to house, feed and eventually euthanize a shelter animal), and make California a nationwide leader in animal welfare.

I support the following ideas:

1)     Encourage the Governor and legislators to establish an advisory state Animal Commission with the purpose of helping cities and counties achieve no-kill.

2)     Ask that all animal services departments within the state have a workable plan in place with target dates and goals. Public / private partnerships are an essential component.

3)     Increase statewide animal adoptions and spay/neuter services. As fewer animals come into the shelters, the primary purpose of these facilities will be to reunite lost companion animals with their families.

4)     Work to ensure that animal cruelty laws are enforced and those who abuse animals are severely punished. This includes stepping up enforcement of breeding ordinances and supporting animal abuse task forces.

5)     Require real accountability by all animal services departments in the state.

6)     Establish a mechanism by which the Director of Animal Welfare (DAW) program can be expanded to the whole of California.

7)     Create an atmosphere in which compassionate shelter workers are rewarded and animal services departments cooperate with the community.

8)     Support and expand a trap/neuter/release feral cat program throughout California.

9)     Establish a nonprofit to assist the shelters and use fundraising dollars to help the animals.

10)  Push for animal-friendly legislation.

11)  Build more dog parks and dog beaches in the state.

12)  Encourage humane education.

 The Los Angeles Zoo:

I want to see the Los Angeles elephant exhibit closed and the three L.A. zoo elephants--Ruby, Gita and Billy—moved to a sanctuary. A 75-page CAO report came back stating that the taxpayers should fund a $33 million three-acre L.A. exhibit. Not only would this be disastrous for the elephants, but it would be burdensome for our city which is currently $268 million in debt.

 If Los Angeles is going to have a zoo, the animals must be healthy and happy. I support a more humane zoo with better conditions and treatment for the animals.