MSN in Los Angeles
08/25/09 09:17 AM Filed in: LEGISLATION
MSN in Los Angeles
I see that the SCIL people are claiming that MSN was not enforced in Los Angeles until October of 2008. I can understand how they could think that; none of them live in Los Angeles or have dogs so they had no reason to try and license dogs.
The City could not issue citations until October 1st. But beginning on February 27th, as soon as the Mayor signed the Ordinance, it was enforced at the six Animal Shelters. You were told that you had to have your animal sterilized. If you were familiar with the law, you could get them to grudgingly agree that if you had an AKC show dog, you could get a $100 license. But each person wanted different "proof" of this. For some an AKC Certificate was necessary, for others a listing in a dog show catalog, others wanted to see that your dog was really there.
Unless you showed your copy of the ordinance, they never mentioned that you could keep a non-AKC dog intact by buying a "Breeder's Permit". CDOC accompanied several people to license their dogs after they were told they could not get intact dog licenses. So this law has been enforced since February. We have video and recordings of shelter personnel and their supervisors fumbling their way through explanations; not their fault; it is amazingly complex.
We also have a sworn statement from Ed Boks talking about the fact that the law was enforced, as far as licensing, beginning February 27th.
I see that the SCIL people are claiming that MSN was not enforced in Los Angeles until October of 2008. I can understand how they could think that; none of them live in Los Angeles or have dogs so they had no reason to try and license dogs.
The City could not issue citations until October 1st. But beginning on February 27th, as soon as the Mayor signed the Ordinance, it was enforced at the six Animal Shelters. You were told that you had to have your animal sterilized. If you were familiar with the law, you could get them to grudgingly agree that if you had an AKC show dog, you could get a $100 license. But each person wanted different "proof" of this. For some an AKC Certificate was necessary, for others a listing in a dog show catalog, others wanted to see that your dog was really there.
Unless you showed your copy of the ordinance, they never mentioned that you could keep a non-AKC dog intact by buying a "Breeder's Permit". CDOC accompanied several people to license their dogs after they were told they could not get intact dog licenses. So this law has been enforced since February. We have video and recordings of shelter personnel and their supervisors fumbling their way through explanations; not their fault; it is amazingly complex.
We also have a sworn statement from Ed Boks talking about the fact that the law was enforced, as far as licensing, beginning February 27th.
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What's Happening with SB250
08/25/09 09:16 AM Filed in: LEGISLATION
WHAT"S HAPPENING WITH SB250
SB250 is on the Appropriations schedule for Thursday and according to the rules any amendments would need to be in print 3 days before it can be heard. But we all know the rules can and do get changed easily, especially this late in the session.
In Sacramento everyone believes there will be amendments. The thought is he will include agricultural dogs but not working dogs. But this bill will not offer exemptions for
Service Dogs Guide Dogs Law Enforcement Dogs Search and Rescue Dogs Cadaver Dogs Bomb Sniffing Dogs Any performance or show dogs
So any of these dogs who are off leash two times (and that seems to be over their lifetime) will trigger the MSN portion. And for any of these dogs that, during the course of their work also do not wear their collar with the license tags, they will trigger the MSN portion of the bill on the first offense. So if a show dog is cited once for being improperly licensed, which is defined in most communities as not wearing the tag, it is automatic MSN.
There are no exemptions for natural disasters. There are no exemptions for the poor or the unemployed who cannot pay fines and MSN; they will have no choice but to relinquish their dogs to the government.
You really need to make phone calls to the Appropriations Committee Members. Their numbers are available at the SB250.org website
SB250 is on the Appropriations schedule for Thursday and according to the rules any amendments would need to be in print 3 days before it can be heard. But we all know the rules can and do get changed easily, especially this late in the session.
In Sacramento everyone believes there will be amendments. The thought is he will include agricultural dogs but not working dogs. But this bill will not offer exemptions for
Service Dogs Guide Dogs Law Enforcement Dogs Search and Rescue Dogs Cadaver Dogs Bomb Sniffing Dogs Any performance or show dogs
So any of these dogs who are off leash two times (and that seems to be over their lifetime) will trigger the MSN portion. And for any of these dogs that, during the course of their work also do not wear their collar with the license tags, they will trigger the MSN portion of the bill on the first offense. So if a show dog is cited once for being improperly licensed, which is defined in most communities as not wearing the tag, it is automatic MSN.
There are no exemptions for natural disasters. There are no exemptions for the poor or the unemployed who cannot pay fines and MSN; they will have no choice but to relinquish their dogs to the government.
You really need to make phone calls to the Appropriations Committee Members. Their numbers are available at the SB250.org website
LA City Council Votes On SB250 Support
08/05/09 08:35 AM Filed in: LEGISLATION
LOS ANGELES AS A ROLE MODEL FOR CALIFORNIA? ONLY IF WE VALUE KILLING OWNED ANIMALS.
Yesterday the City of Los Angeles had on the agenda to consider whether to support SB250. Since the Mayor's Office has been sending people, at City expense, to Sacramento for each hearing, it seems that he has unilaterally decided to support this. He is evidently not concerned about the increased killing in Los Angeles since the end of February. Kill rates for dogs are up 24%.
His advisors, including SB250 sponsor, who was at the City Council meeting today, would say that the reason the numbers are so bad is that the economy and home foreclosures are so bad. But, as the chart below shows, the numbers in Los Angeles far exceed those elsewhere in the State. And this Chart specifically shows counties with high foreclosure rates and where the economy is far worse than Los Angeles.
Maybe the City Council just wants company. Unfortunately it would come at the expense of owned dogs and cats. But that did not deter non-Los Angeles resident Mancuso from leading the charge.
Flores Says He's Not Levine
08/03/09 10:00 AM Filed in: LEGISLATION
LEVINE ACTUALLY DID MAKE CHANGES
August 3rd and those amendments that Florez promised the Senate just have not appeared.
It would have been hard to predict at the beginning of the legislative year and anyone could make Assembly Member Levine look responsive but Florez has managed to do this. For those of you who have forgotten the Committee hearing, it is here at You Tube.
One of the problems that the Senator has is that his bill makes the 500,000 people who went to one or more AKC events last year irresponsible owners with this bill. Some because they do not have their tags on in conformation events and some because they have to be off lead to compete in performance events. And with Los Angeles Animal Control conducting sting operations so charge people training their dogs at the parks; can you doubt that other cities will follow their lead. One dog show sweep alone could net almost $500,000 in fines and court costs.