ACTION ALERT - DALLAS TEXAS URGENT......ADOA MEMBERS
HELP NEEDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE CROSS POST........................

TX-RPOA E-News
>From Responsible Pet Owners Alliance,
the reasonable voice regarding animal issues in Texas.
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance is an animal welfare organization,
not "animal rights" and, yes, there is a difference.
Permission granted to crosspost.

March 21, 2008
Action Alert for Dallas, Texas!

After being told repeatedly that nothing was in writing yet,
Responsible Pet
Owners Alliance finally received a copy of the Chapter 7 Animal
Ordinance
Revisions under an Open Records Act Request. As we notified you
previously,
this was unanimously approved by the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission
in
January -- exactly one month after passage of the onerous San Antonio
ordinance. It must have been in the hopper ... waiting. The Revisions
are
tentatively scheduled to be presented to the Quality of Life Committee
for
consideration in late April but that date could change at any time.

We have no objection to the Dangerous Dogs Section as it appears to be
well
written with due process provisions. However we do oppose the sections
below because they are not in the best interests of the animals nor
their
owners:
1) Pet Limits. (Dallas has no pet limits now.)
2) Mandatory Spay/Neuter Requirements and Breeder Permits for dogs and
cats.
3) No Tethering.
4) Miscellaneous Section which includes a Fine Schedule for violations
and
criminal and
civil penalties which are "per day per dog."

This ordinance means fewer homes for pets, more animals killed by
Dallas
Animal Services and mixed breeds will become extinct among other
concerns.
People will be forced to buy only registered dogs and cats the Animal
Services director decides can exist which could lead to breed specific
concerns.

Mandatory Spay/Neuter and Breeder Permit Ordinances are proof of the
"animal
rights" agenda to end all use, breeding and ownership of animals - if
you
had any doubts. Just follow the legislative trail all over the
country. It
defies all reason and understanding that elected officials do not see
that
if all pets are sterilized, where does the next generation come from?
And
who could afford to buy one if they can find it? It's up to us to tell
them!

To help Dallas animal owners please go to our web site for the Action
Alert:
_www.responsiblepetowners.org_ (http://www.responsiblepetowners.org/)
Click on the yellow blinking Action Alert button (lower left) and under
"Dallas" you'll find links with talking points and contact information
to
write, phone and/or email all city officials.
There are also links to each of the Chapter 7 Animal Ordinance
provisions.
Be sure to scroll down on each one provision as they have multiple
pages.
Dallas, Texas, Action Alert!
The Dallas Animal Shelter Commission voted unanimously on January 17th to
approve
Chapter 7 Animal Ordinance Revisions, which are an "animal rights"
national legislative
agenda to end all use, breeding and ownership of pets and are not a
solution to any local
animal problems.
The solution to animal problems is strict enforcement of existing leash
laws, animal
cruelty and animal nuisance laws; education in proper pet care and bite
prevention;
voluntary free and low cost pet spay/neuter programs; and aggressive
off-site pet
adoptions for impounded animals at Animal Services.
The proposed revisions include:
The Dangerous Dog Section is acceptable and not opposed. The sections below
are to be
opposed with no compromises because they are not in the best interest of
the animals.
(The "director" below refers to the director of Dallas Animal Services.)
o Pet Limits of 6 dogs, cats or combination in a single family home;
providing a
grandfather provision for dogs or cats registered within 90 days with the
director;
allows no additional animals to be covered.
o Mandatory Spay/Neuter: Owner of unspayed or unneutered dogs and cats over
4
months of age commits an offense if the owner does not have a Breeder
Permit
issued annually for each individual animal. (Only dog and cat show breeders
qualify for this permit).
o $500 Annual Breeder Permit (usually unobtainable for residentially zoned
property) for each dog or cat which must be registered with a national
registry
(approved by the director) AND whose owner is a member of a purebred dog or
cat club (also approved by the director). The club must have a code of
ethics
restricting breeding dogs and cats with genetic defects and life
threatening health
problems for approval.
o Foster Care Providers must obtain a form from the director to apply for a
permit
(notarized by the legal owner and one occupant of the dwelling unit) to
keep up to
10 dogs, cats or any combination which authorizes unannounced inspections
of
premises and must be approved by the director.
o Ban on tethering dogs unless owner is present and includes new
confinement
requirements of 150 feet pen size per dog.
Talking Points (Choose from below; copy and paste into a letter.):
o This ordinance clearly demonstrates the national "animal rights"
legislative
agenda to end all use, breeding and ownership of animals, and was not
written to
address Dallas animal problems. Their extreme agenda is an assault on the
human/animal bond.
o The proposal is bad law and must be defeated in its entirety -- not
amended --
because compromise is a favorite strategy of the "animal rights"
extremists to
achieve their goal to stop all breeding of animals.
o Followed to the ultimate conclusion, this ordinance means mixed breeds
will
become extinct. People will be forced to buy only registered dogs and cats
that
the Animal Services director decides can exist in Dallas. This ordinance
does not
address animals imported from out of state for resale nor the auction of
animals.
o Animals are legally personal property although there are those who are
trying to
change this law in our court system. The spay/neuter provision in this
ordinance
for 4 month old dogs and cats is comparable to hysterectomies for 3 year
old girls
and vasectomies for 3 year old boys. There will be a lack of hormones for
mental
and physical development.
o The ordinance places the brunt of enforcement for Breeder Permits on
Dallas dog
and cat fancy clubs who will have to furnish their club membership lists to
Animal Services. "Mandatory Spay/Neuter of all dogs and cats over 4 months
of
age unless each animal has a $500 annual Breeder Permit has qualifications
that
the dog must be registered with a national registry (approved by the
director) and
whose owner must be a member of a purebred dog or cat club (also approved
by
the director). The club must have a code of ethics which restricts breeding
dogs
and cats with genetic defects and life threatening health problems for
approval by
the director." The clubs will not do this.
o Since the director must approve of any national registry and club when
applying
for a Breeder Permit, this opens the door for breed specific decisions
which would
be in violation of state law prohibiting same.
o There are many assistance, hunting and other working dog breeds that can´
t be
spayed or neutered because it ruins their basic working capabilities. This
is
supported in a study by Canine Companions for Independence. Most working
breeds can´t be evaluated for capabilities until they are close to 2 years
old.
o This type legislation has failed where passed 15 years ago: San Mateo
County,
CA; King County, WA; Montgomery County, MD. It hasn´t been successful
anywhere in spite of what you´ll be told.
o Pet limits mean fewer homes for dogs and cats. The existing Dallas
ordinance
with no pet limits should be preserved as a reasonable approach which
allows any
number of animals to be kept unless they are abused, neglected or become a
nuisance.
o Robert (Skip) Trimble, chairman of the Dallas Animal Shelter Commission,
received the "2001 Activist Award" from People for the Ethical Treatment
of
Animals (PETA) September 8, 2001. PETA has a "No Birth Campaign" to end
all breeding of pets and considers pet ownership to be slavery.
o "Animal Rights" activists say they have pets and are their "guardians"
(not
owners) but where will future pets come from if there is no breeding
allowed?
o This legislation will not reduce strays and will double or triple the
annual budget
for Dallas Animal Services.
o It´s unenforceable without controversial and costly door-to-door
enforcement to
check for sex organs on dogs and cats and will ultimately mean more animals
will
be relinquished to local shelters and Animal Services.
o This type legislation is discriminatory to low income pet owners and will
result in
these pet owners giving up their pets to be killed at Animal Services.
o This anti-pet legislation is vehemently opposed by dog and cat fanciers
who
would feel their annual shows are not welcome in your city and would have a
major economic impact should they leave. National and international
exhibitors
spend millions of dollars at area businesses each year.
o Pet owners will go underground and won´t purchase pet licenses, breeder
permits,
nor get Rabies Vaccinations and eventually this will create a public health
threat.
o "Permits" make animal owners a target and mean permission is granted to
enter
premises at any time without a search warrant. Breeders, rescuers and those
who
foster animals in their homes are already regulated by animal nuisance,
animal
cruelty and leash laws and resent this unwarranted intrusion by city
employees.
o Is the city of Dallas ready to face the liability of ill effects from
spay/neuter, such
as death of a beloved pet from anesthesia and significant behavioral and
health
risks, such as osteosarcoma (bone cancer), cardiac hemangiosarcoma,
obesity,
hypothyroidism, progressive geriatric cognitive impairment, prostate
cancer,
urinary tract cancers, orthopedic disorders, urinary incontinence in female
dogs,
and other issues? This should be a decision made by the pet owner with
their
veterinarian - not city government.
o Tethering & Pen Confinement: A Cornell University study entitled "A
Comparison of Tethering and Pen Confinement of Dogs" to determine whether
tethering was detrimental to the dog´s welfare compared general activity
and
specific behaviors and concluded there was no improvement in welfare in
pens.
There was no difference in aggression or play. Requiring a 150´ pen for a
Chihuahua or other small dogs is ridiculous.
Please contact ALL Dallas city officials below. Faxes are best but anything
will do!
Always place "Opposition to proposed Chapter 7 revisions" in the subject
line.
Dallas Morning News
Letters to the Editor bmong@dallasnews.com
City of Dallas
1500 Marilla Street
Dallas, Texas 75201
Mayor Tom Leppert
Phone 214) 670-4054
Fax 214) 670-0646
Tom.leppert@dallascityhall.com
City Manager Mary Suhm
Phone 214) 670-3296
Fax 214) 670-3946
Mary.Suhm@dallascityhall.com
Asst. City Manager David Brown
(supervises Animal Services)
Phone 214) 670-3390
Fax 214) 670-4965
David.brown@dallascityhall.com
Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Elba Garcia
Phone 214) 670-4052
Fax 214) 670-3409
Elba.garcia@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Pauline Medrano
Chairman: Quality of Life Committee
Phone 214) 670-4048
Fax 214) 670-5117
Pauline.medrano@dallascityhall.com
Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway
Phone 214) 670-0781
Fax 214) 670-3409
Dwaine.caraway@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember David Neumann
Member: Quality of Life Committee
Phone 214) 670-0776
Fax 214) 670-1833
David.neumann@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Vonciel Jones Hill
Vice-Chair: Quality of Life Committee
Phone 214) 670-0777
Fax 214) 670-5117
Vonciel.hill@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Steve Salazar
Member: Quality of Life Committee
Phone 214) 670-4199
Fax 214) 670-5115
Steven.salazar@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Carolyn Davis
Quality of Life Committee
Phone 214) 670-4689
Fax 214) 670-5115
Carolyn.davis@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Tennell Atkins
Phone 214) 670-4066
Fax 214) 670-5115
Tennell.atkins@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Sheffield Kadane
Quality of Life Committee
Phone 214) 670-4069
Fax 214) 670-5115
sheffield.kadane@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Jerry Allen
Phone 214) 670-4068
Fax 214) 670-5115
Jerry.allen@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Linda Koop
Phone 214) 670-7817
Fax 214) 670-5117
Debra.brown@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Ron Natinsky
Phone 214) 670-4067
Fax 214) 670-5117
District12@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Mitchell Rasansky
Phone 214) 670-3816
Fax 214) 670-5117
Mitchell.rasansky@dallascityhall.com
Councilmember Angela Hunt
Phone 214) 670-5415
Fax 214) 670-5117
Angela.hunt@dallascityhall.com
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What passes in other cities will be in your city next!
PETA & HSUS Plan to Eliminate ALL Dogs ONE-BREED-AT-A-TIME!
It started with "Pit Bulls" - which breed will be next?
Animal Welfare is Love, Care, & Protection of Pets
Animal Rights is Death & Extinction of Pets: PETA & HSUS
"Many citizens because of their respect for what only appears
to be a law are cunningly coerced into waiving their rights due
to ignorance." - _U.S. v. Minker_
(http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=350&invol=179)