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Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2005
Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm, July 14, 2005.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Present: Commissioners Kennedy, Franklin, Kipnis, Weiss, DVM, Schulke, Yeager, Hamilton
Absent with excuse: Commissioners Herndon and Guldbech
Guest: Carl Friedman, Director of SF Animal Care and Control
2. Public Comment- None
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the June 9, 2005 Meeting
Schulke - with regard to LA legislation, minutes should state that if a permit not issued, then the owner will have to pay a fine for unaltered animal.
Public comment
Richard Fong - page 4, discussed vasectomony as an option
Judith Breckham - $10 for license, and $100 if dog is unaltered
Motion by Commissioner Hamilton to accept the June minutes with changes
Seconded by Commissioner Schulke.
Passed unanimously
4. Chairperson's Report and Opening Remarks
a. News and updates regarding recommendations made on June 17, 2005 by the Canine Response Working Group
Carl Friedman
· Mission of workgroup was to obtain best practices with regard to how to deal with the pit bull issue. Not looking to ban an specific breed. The focus was on the pit bull problem, specifically backyard breeders.
· Most important report recommendation is the proposed change to the current state law which would allow cities and counties the ability to pass breed specific legislation for public safety, as long as it does not ban the breed. The proposed bill, sponsored by Senator Spier, has been through a number of modifications and now proposes breed specific legislation for pit bulls specific to mandatory spay neuter and breeding requirements only. Anticipates bill will be voted on in the next couple of months.
· Another important recommendation is the establishment of breeder requirements. Need to consider breeding condition, where and who are breeding, how many litters per year, where are the puppies being sold, etc.
· Mayors mandate is to coincide with the writing of legislation, so if the proposed state law amendment does pass, we are ready to proceed with SF legislation.
· Thanked Senator Spier and Supervisor Bevan Dufty for tackling this issue.
Amanda Kahn, Supervisor Dufty's Assistant - the Supervisor wants feedback from the Commission so he can have the most informed legislation to bring to the Board of Supervisors. Should the state legislation pass, the Mayor would like to move very fast and have city legislation ready to go to the Board of Supervisors. The Supervisor has already requested the City Attorney's office to draft legislation.
Chair Kennedy -Commission's job is to examine the issues, research what else is in place in other municipalities and provide the information to Duty's office in a timely manner.
Public Comment
Terresa Paul - how do you find the backyard breeders. If this passes, it is the responsible owners who are going to have to pay for the city to find the backyard breeders.
Bob Obrian - against BSL, does not go far enough. Stop breeding and selling all dogs, not just backyard breeders. Need a plan "B" in case the proposed state law does not pass; what is the definition of "adoptable".
5. New Business
a. Discuss legislation that would require spay/neuter surgery:
- Consider the Working Group's recommendations - mandated altering for pit bull and pit bull mixed ; neutering upon shelter impoundment or failure to license.
- Explore the options, benefits, and drawbacks involved with mandating spay/neuter for all dogs, with the exception of licensed breeders and show dogs
Commission Discussion
· Carl Friedman - ACC is only inundated with animals that no one wants, mostly pit bulls. May not be in our best interest to have a mandatory spay neuter for all dogs; not sure it's necessary and enforcement would be very difficult; would result in selective enforcement. Right now the need is to focus on the problem of overpopulation of pit-bulls, bite incidents and the animal welfare side - stop the killing so many pit bull because we can't find good homes. Start with the problem at hand, pit bulls, and see how it works; then consider mandatory spay neuter city-wide.
· Commissioner has collected mandatory spay neuter laws from other municipalities. Need to call representatives from these municipalities and find out how these are enforced.
· Institute mandatory spay neuter for all dogs. That would address the aggression and population issues.
· It will be a challenge to identify a pit bull and pit bull mixes. Where does the law draw the line?
· Mandatory spay neuter for all dogs would be a great idea, however, community might feel that the city was interfering in their personal life; there was much opposition when this issue came before the Commission years ago.
· Would like to see mandatory spay neuter for all dogs be a model for other counties. At the same time, must consider the impact of enforcement on ACC. Need to invite experts to our next meeting to discuss this issue.
· If the proposed amendment to the state law does not pass, then mandatory spay neuter of all dogs would take care of the pit bull problem. The goal should be to put shelters out of business - no more homeless pets.
· Although there appears to be less of overpopulation problem, there is no harm in instituting mandatory spay neuter for all dog as a way to keep the population down. Just because the issue faced great opposition from the community the last time it was brought up before the Commission, that does not mean we should not bring it up again.
· This is personal issue for many people; some fear surgery. We won't change the way people feel.
· If the public knew the stats on dog bites, there would be support of mandatory spay neuter across the board.
· Must not forget to look at responsible guardianship in concert with educational.
· The issue of dog aggression is primary; regardless of breed - not just pit bulls that are aggressive. Mandatory spay neuter across the board will address this problem. Need to research stats on aggression in dogs.
Public Comment
Ron Cole - main concern of veterinarians in the mid 90s was that they would have to start reporting to any city agency; people might stop getting their dogs vaccinated if they knew that they would be reported for not neutering their dog.
Judith Breckham -the average Joe does not always keeping up with the training of any breed. Also consider neutering male dogs later.
Bob Obrian - licensed breeders have a lot of deficiencies; no one should be licensed to breed dogs; any recommendation should include education so the public knows how many animals are being killed with our tax dollars.
Patrick Norman - need to control the owner, not the dog; place the responsibility with the owner.
Salley Stevens - produced position paper on aggressive dogs. Supports mandatory spay neuter of all dogs, with exception for responsible breeders, show dogs and health issues.
Richard Fong - park stewardship should be brought into this discussion. Where are we going to look for dog problems?
Terresa Paul - support mandatory spay neuter, breeder permits are a good idea.
Commission Discussion
· Look at this issue more fully and consider whether or not it would be supported by the community. Need to look at this issue as a public safety issue.
· Objective of BSL is to address aggression in pit bulls and to address the overpopulation of pit bulls. Does this lead to `breedism"? Must now consider the objective of mandatory spay neuter for all dogs. What are we trying to achieve and is mandatory spay neuter for all dogs the answer? What are the drawbacks, the challenges, the successes?
· Potential guest speakers for next Commission meeting:
· Behaviorists Jean Donaldson and Janice Bradley, SPCA Academy of Dog Trainers
· Professional breeder groups to discuss breeder standards
· Vets who could comment on breeders considerations
· Executive Directors from bay area municipal animals control agencies
· Dona Reynolds from Bad Rap
· Donna Duford
Amanda Kahn -Supervisor Dufty is more comfortable with BSL to address public safety issues, but he would seriously consider any recommendation from the Commission
6. Backyard breeding
a. Discuss a back-yard breeding prohibition that would restrict the practice of breeding to those persons appropriately licensed.
b. Explore what standards should be in place for one to be a licensed breeder
c. Discuss regulations that would restrict the ability for non-licensed breeders to advertise through any forum
Commission discussion
· Gather as many breeding laws as possible; laws are different in each state, different for each breed; vary across urban and rural settings, etc. Review successful breeding laws and assess how those laws would work in SF. Need experts in this area to speak to the Commission as well.
· Immediate need is to deal with aggression; overpopulation is also an issue (maybe not now, but could be again in the future), animal welfare - stop the killing of dogs.
· Need for mandatory spay neuter of all dogs if the proposed state law does not pass. Must have a plan B.
Carl Friedman - reiterate that overpopulation is with pit bulls, no other breeds; we do not have an overpopulation of other breeds, as we once did. Also ACC currently has a different screening/adoption process for pit bulls, which is necessary, even though is it against the law as the law stands now.
Public Comment
Ron Cole - should offer free services for neutering dogs; voluntary spay neutering works far better than any law on the books.
Amanda Kahn - media will pick up on whatever action comes from this; that media attention will in turn educate the community.
Salley Stevens- should act sooner, not wait for action on state law.
Judith Breckham- how to define the pit bull; in LA, the ordinance is not being enforced; only being enforced in the poorer neighborhoods; people with unaltered dogs are not licensed.
Commission Discussion
Carl Friedman - There is the political will to make this work. SF is committed to this issue and will put forth the resources needed to address this problem.
7. Commissioner Officer Elections
Officer seats are held for one year.
Chair - Commissioner Franklin nominated Chair Kennedy to continue to serve as Chair.
Seconded by Commissioner Kipnis
Vice Chair - Commissioner Kipnis nominated Vice Chair Franklin to continue to serve as Vice Chair
Seconded by Commissioner Hamilton
Secretary - Commissioner Kennedy nominated Commissioner Kipnis to continue to serve as Secretary
Seconded by Commissioner Weiss.
No other nominations.
Commissioner Hamilton moved to accept slate of officer nominations
Motion seconded by Commissioner Schulke
Passed unanimously
8. Commendation for former Commissioner Elissa Eckman.
Commissioner Franklin moved that the Commission expresses its appreciation to and commend former Commission Elissa Eckman for her great work as Commissioner and Chair.
Carl Friedman - moved to also commend former Chair Schulke, who chaired the Commission for years during some very hard and difficult times. Did an excellent job as Chair.
Commissioner Kipnis moved that the Commission write a letter of commendation and certificates to both form Commissioner Eckman and Commissioner Schulke.
Seconded by Commissioner Hamilton
Passed unanimously
Public Comment
David Pillpell - given suggested that the Commission request staffing to handle the correspondence, minutes, postings so the Commission can focus on the issues and not the administrative needs.
Commissioner Schulke will be addressing the Board at their next meeting regarding the Commission's need for staff, given the tasks we are given to do, we are the only Commission without a staff.
Friedman - will make sure we get the staffing we need consistent with our budget for this year.
8. Closing Review of Task Allotment and Next Steps
a. Commissioner Franklin will continue to research breeder specifications.
b. Commission Kennedy will contact Executive Directors of city run shelters in other municipalities regarding mandatory spay neuter legislation
c. Commissioner Kennedy will follow up with Carl Friedman regarding to the Commission's budget, office space, and staffing.
d. Commissioner Kipnis will research mandatory spay neuter laws in other municipalities.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm