2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 COMMISSION OF ANIMAL CONTROL & WELFARE
Mailing Address: City Hall #1 Dr. Carlton
B. Goodlett Place, Room 453
San Francisco, CA 94102
Voice Mail: (415) 554-6074
Website: www:sfgov.org/awcc
MINUTES OF MEETING - September 11, 2003
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Kennedy, who presided during all aspects of the meeting, convened the meeting at 5:39 p.m. Seven Commissioners (or lawful designates) holding valid appointments being present, the quorum requirement of Section 6 of the Commission's Rules & Regulations (50 per cent of those eligible to vote) was satisfied.
Commissioners in Attendance: Laurie Kennedy, Chair, Sherri Franklin, Vice-Chair, Elissa Eckman, Esquire, Chin Chi, Susan Wheeler, Capt. Vicky Guldbech, Animal Care & Control, Sgt. William Herndon, SFPD. Absent with excuse: Kelly Jensen, DVM. Also, the continued absence of Recreation and Park
2. Public Comment
It was stated that on the agenda the Commissioners should be listed with the organizations they represent. Lisa Vitore would like Commissioners to be more assertive with the Board of Supervisors and the Recreation & Park Department regarding three issues: 1) No kill policy 2)Tool box of ways in which to socialize dogs, 3) Off-leash (Socializing and training more important than leash laws.)
3. Approval of Draft Minutes from the August 14, 2003 Meeting
4. Chairperson Opening Remarks
The Chair reported: 1) A date has not been set
by the Rules Committee for when they will hear the appointment for the vacant
position on the Commission. Most likely, it will be heard in early October.
2) Comm. Franklin will provide an update on the Responsible Dog Guardianship
package but the Public and Commissioner's comment would be postponed until
the next months meeting due to the extensive discussion that will follow on
the cat declawing issue. 3) The feral cats issue will be calendared at a future
date. 4) Discussion on off-leash dog recreation will be postponed until the
Dog Advisory Committee completes their process of defining additional off-leash
recreational areas. The Chair welcomed everyone and expressed gratitude to
all individuals who had traveled from out-of-town just to attend this meeting.
7. Old Business
a. Proposed establishment of a local ordinance
that would prohibit veterinarians from declawing cats. (Taken out of order)
Comm. Wheeler reported the partial results received
from the survey that was mailed to San Francisco Veterinarians. Of the fourteen
surveys tabulated, there was a consensus that veterinarians did not like regulation.
Comm. Wheeler found most veterinarians to be reasonable and felt their primary
mission is to help animals. However, there was a divergence when it came to
helping the guardian or helping the animal. Therefore, the declawing legislation
would help provide a voice in support of the animals.
Scheduled guest speakers were introduced:
Jennifer Conrad, DVM, and Jim Jensvold, M.D.,
represented the Santa Monica Paw Project.
Dr. Conrad displayed a power point presentation,
which revealed many disturbing results of the surgical declaw procedure that
was performed on various large cats. Dr. Conrad stated that declawing of cats
is banned in most European countries, and if performed, it was not done to
benefit the animal. Dr. Conrad strongly urged the Commission to help stop
the abuse to cats by supporting the ban. Comm. Eckmam asked if Dr. Conrad
would be willing to return and testify before a committee if hearings were
held. Dr. Conrad was willing to return if needed.
Dr. Jim Jensvold refuted published information
provided by the AVMA/CVMA, advocates for the practice of declawing. The actual
data used for these articles was insufficient, using only 640 cats as the
basis of their study. He stated that there was published and experiential
evidence that declawing actually puts cats at higher risk by creating behavioral
problems that result in relinquishment. Dr. Jensvold supports the ban on declawing
and urged that San Francisco join the rest of the world that already rejects
this procedure. Dr. Jensbold further stated that because of San Francisco's
recognized leadership for their compassionate treatment of animals, implementing
a ban would have a tremendous educational impact on California and the Country.
Pam Rundquist, representing the Association
of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) supports the ban on cat declawing.
AVAR's position, on the declaw procedure, is that it is unnecessary, inhumane
and considered a form of mutilation. The focus should be on educating the
public and cat behavior. AVAR has printed and distributed brochures, which
has been requested nationwide, to help educate the public on alternative methods
to declawing. Geneva Paige, of the SF Animal Protection Institute and Jill
Kiesow, from the Sacramento Animal Protection Institute, urged the Commission
to support the ban on declawing.
Dr. Dean Beyerinch, Medical Director, Irving
Street Veterinarian Hospital, supports the ban on declawing. He stated that
most veterinarians do not enjoy performing the declawing procedure, but the
procedure has been part of their culture for many years. In his discussions
with other veterinarians he found that most felt declawing was acceptable
if the following steps were taken: 1) The appropriate steps were taken to
educate the client. 2) Every effort was made to persuade the client not to
go forward with the procedure. 3) The surgery was
performed in the most humane way possible, i.e.,
using the proper surgical equipment, and proper pain control medication. Dr.
Beyerinch further stated that it was the opinion of the
Veterinarian community that if this legislation
passed, it would be the beginning of continued government regulations in their
profession. Therefore, they are not in support of the ban.
If veterinarians were made to understand that
this was not the case, many would probably support the ban. Dr. Beyerinch
stressed the importance of educating the students in veterinarian schools,
and also the general public on declawing.
Dr. Mack, representing the CVMA, stated their
oath is to help and cure animals. He has spoken with the dean of two schools,
UC Davis and Sacramento State, who will allow him to address the veterinarian
students regarding the concerns of declawing. Dr. Mack will also attend legislative
meetings in Sacramento for the Veterinarian Medical Board's Sunset Review.
This is the agency that controls veterinarian medicine. He intends to inform
the Board that they have not been diligent in controlling medication in the
areas of pain and suffering, and will ask that they do a job better. Dr. Mack
stated this would help address not only the declaw issue, but other issues
where pain and suffering is a concern and not addressed adequately. Dr. Mack
further stated that mandatory regulations concerning consent is absolutely
necessary and needed to be enforced by the CVMA so that individuals who did
not follow the standard procedure would be considered negligent and should
be punished for not obeying the accepted standard practices of California.
Public Comment
Dr. Katz, stated as a retired veterinarian,
he witnessed the pain and suffering of cats after the declaw surgical procedure
was performed and, therefore, strongly supports the ban.
Bob O'Brien supports the ban and also requested
endorsement of AB395 the Koretz Bill.
Comm. Wheeler stated that she has been working
with Supervisor Sandoval's office, who
is also working on a resolution in support of
the Koretz Bill. Michael Delgado, Susan Martin, Nancy Gelzo, Lana Bajsel,
Linda Bryant and Lisa Vitore all expressed their support of the ban. Jean
Lundgren, Cat Behavior Volunteer with the SPCA, provided unofficial data from
the ACC Intake Evaluation Log, of declawed cats that were evaluated, accepted
or declined by the SPCA during 2/2002 -8/2003. Anne Feingold, a volunteer
with ACC, stated that once the SPCA declines an animal, the animal is euthenized,
she urged support of the ban.
COMMISSIONER COMMENT:
Comm. Wheeler stated that data was helpful and
asked if ACC could provide similar data. Comm. Guldbech stated that ACC fully
supported the ban and would furnish any data need. The Chair asked Comm. Wheeler
if Supervisor Sandoval's office provided any information on how to proceed
with ordinance. Comm. Wheeler stated that she informed the Supervisor's office
that the Commission was looking at both a resolution and an ordinance. She
provided Supervisor Sandoval's office with proposed language for a resolution
which included 1) Support of the Koretz Bill, and 2) Condemning the practice
of declawing, and 3) Requesting all veterinarians in San Francisco educate
the public when they are requested to perform the declawing procedure. Comm.
Wheeler also read her proposed language for the ordinance. Comm. Eckman stated
that the language was good but that more work needed to be done before it
could be finalized. Comm. Guldbech stated that language would need to be carefully
reviewed. Comm. Wheeler sated the West Hollywood's ordinance was more straightforward.
Comm. Kennedy stated Commissioners should focus on movement to get support
from the Supervisors. Comm. Wheeler stated Sup. Sandoval's aide was working
on a resolution.
Comm. Eckman motioned to pursue the ban on declawing
cats.
Comm. Wheeler seconded motion. The vote was
unanimous in support of the ban to declaw cats. Ayes: Eckman, Franklin, Kennedy,
Wheeler, Chi
Comm Wheeler will request Supervisor Sandoval
to write a letter in support of Koretz Bill. Comm. Wheeler will also
write request to Board of Supervisors to support the ban. The request may
go to Supervisor Sandoval.
The Chair asked what was the status of the Koretz
Bill. Comm. Wheeler stated the Bill was in Committee but would check on status.
Since Comm. Wheeler would be out of the County for a two months, another Commissioner
would need to follow up in order to move forward with the ordinance. Comm.
Franklin stated she would provide the follow up and also write to the Board
of Supervisors.
b. Development of local "Cambridge-type"
ordinance that would provide critical oversight of UCSF live animal testing.
Comm. Eckman reported that she has been in contact
with Susan Roy regarding uncorrected violations at UCSF. The Commissioner
has continued work on creating a commission that has the ability to go into
UCSF and oversee animal testing. A Sunshine Ordinance request was sent to
Bill Lee, the City Administrator on September 3rd. A letter was
also sent to the Department of Agriculture regarding violations. Comm. Eckman
will report on responses at the next meeting.
Public Comment:
Lisa Vitore asked where she could get a copy
of the violations. Bob O'Brien questioned the use of the State anti-cruelty
laws.
Commissioner Comment:
Commissioner Eckman stated federal laws should
regulate abuses, but does not allow local government intervention.
6. Status and tracking of letters of recommendation approved by the Commission, requesting action by the Board of Supervisors.
a. Establishment of a "Responsible Dog
Guardianship" legislation package:
Comm. Franklin stated that Supervisor Dufty
felt confident that he would carry the legislation but he wanted
to make sure that we heard all public comment. Part two of the legislation
regarding the owners picking up their dog feces was dropped since the fine
has already been raised.
5. Committee Reports/Commissioner's Reports (out of order)
a. Status of supervisor support/acknowledgement of the need to prioritize sufficient enforcement of Federal, State, and local law as it apples to entrepreneurs of live animal markets.
Report carried forward to the October 9th meeting.
Public Comment:
Jean Lundgren requested that the Commission consider strongly urging the Recreation and Park Department to attend the Commission meetings. The Chair stated that the Commission has been working on having a representative attend meetings.
10. Calendar Items: None
11. Closing Review of Task Allotment and Next Step
1. Commissioner's Kennedy and Franklin will follow up with Comm. Wheeler before she leaves the Country in order to continue work on the declawing ordinance.
2. Continue reports on old business.
12. Adjourned: 8:05 p.m.
Dated: 25th September, 2003
Arita, Commission Secretary