ARROYO SECO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL (ASNC)
Animal Welfare
Committee
Agenda
Meeting Area, Fresco Community Market, 5914
Monterey Rd, LA CA 90042
Wed,
April 20,
2011 – 7:00 p.m.
I. Opening
remarks and welcome to membership * (2 min)
II. Stakeholder
comments on non-agenda items within the scope of committeeÕs mandate ** (8 min max)
(2 mins. ea)
III. Old Business:
A.
No-Cost Grant for Friends of Hermon
Dog Park
(5 min): Short discussion of DONEÕs rejection of ASNC no-cost Neighborhood Purposes Grant
to transfer ownership of 12 humane Tomahawk traps (used for catching and fixing
stray cats) to the Friends of Hermon Dog Park. ASNC purchased these traps 2 years ago but
wanted to transfer them to the organization that is exclusively using them.
IV. New
Business:
A. $1500 Funding Request, Pet Search & Rescue
Supplies
(10 min): The ASNC Animal Welfare Cmte requests an amount not to exceed $1500 for the
purchase of supplies necessary for the safe search, capture, rescue and return
of lost, scared or hurt dogs and cats, either during a routine emergency or
after a major disaster when this problem will be rampant. Members of both
the Animal Welfare Committee and the volunteer group FAST (Friends of Animals
Search & Rescue Team) will have access to this equipment. [Request
Originator: Mark Legassie, Director of Animal
Welfare, ASNC]
B. Animal Search & Rescue Team Certification
Initiative (5 min): Update on ASNCÕs initiative to
expand CERT light search & rescue (S&R) training to include pets and
some wild animals. ASNC wants to convince EMD,
CERT and Red Cross to address the deficiency in pet emergency preparedness
training through the creation of a new
certification program consisting of courses offered by the Red Cross and
CERT, including: pet first aid,
pet emergency preparedness, animal S&R, and use of equipment such as
restraining poles, graspers, togs, muzzles, and nets. Pet psychology training is also a vital component to teach volunteers how to deal
with behavioral issues resulting from a pet being lost, hurt and/or homeless.
C. Investigating Complaints
against the Dept of Animal Services and City AttorneyÕs office (20 min) – Motion
to approve a formal letter from ASNC to the Dept of Animal Services inquiring
into several alleged improprieties within LAAS (uncovered by Stray Cat Alliance, and the
ASNC-based animal rescue groups FAST and LA Feeders). Motion includes a review of evidence of the systematic
killing of dozens, if not hundreds, of cats each year which are inappropriately
captured , and then wrongly killed due to incorrect
classification as ÒfractiousÓ (aka feral) – at taxpayersÕ expense.
This motion also authorizes review of allegations that LAAS is going beyond
whatÕs legally reasonable and allowable to comply with the recent anti-TNR
injunction imposed by a Superior Court judge. The motion goes on to allege that untrained and unqualified
LAAS personnel at the receptionist desk are determining the fate of whether a
cat lives or dies (via behavioral assessments done without adequate
veterinarian training or a degree in psychology).
Additional allegations against LAAS include abuse of power, cover-ups by
management at the South LA shelter regarding illegal trapping activity, North
Central subordinates forced not to follow policy under threat and intimidation,
transfer of a well-respected supervisor from North Central for insufficient
reason, decrease in department employee morale, and excessive killing of cats
resulting in what many citizens are now calling the Dept: Òa concentration camp for feralsÓ.
Finally, a review of allegations will be conducted of the office of the elected
City – whom the LAAS Dept Mgr indicated is afraid of displeasing the
wetlands extremists that are determined round up all stray cats and have them exterminated
at taxpayers expense. The
reluctance by the City Attorney is allegedly hampering any efforts by LAAS to
resolve this issue.
The ASNC Animal Welfare Committee is vehemently against the unnecessary killing
of animals in our shelters as well as the improprieties, if true, that have
been made in the above allegations.
D. Guest Speaker, Jennifer Brent (10 min) - External Relations Mgr, Found Animals
Foundation (www.foundanimals.org):
Short presentation on Found AnimalsÕ work at reducing LA animal shelter
euthanasia through sustainable programs.
E. Next Meeting Date – May 2011 (2nd
Wed)
F. Adjournment
* The ASNC Animal Welfare Committee is open to the public and all Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council stakeholders.
** (from
ASNC Bylaws): ART. VIII (COMMITTEES) All committees shall be composed of
both board and non-board members.
The
purpose of the ASNC [is to]: 1) Provide a forum for discussion and review
of ASNC issues and projects; 2) Engage stakeholders in deliberation and
collaboration on matters affecting the community; 3) Promote participation in
City governance and decision making processes, and to promote greater awareness
and utilization of city services available to (ASNC) stakeholders; 4) Work with
other neighborhood councils, communities and organizations on issues of common
interest; 5) Advocate ASNC issues to government and private agencies, where
there is widespread community agreement; 6) Inform and educate community
stakeholders and residents of forthcoming projects, events, and resources
available.
[Please direct questions about this
meeting announcement to animal_welfare@asnc.us]