Friday, May 2nd, 2003
PAWS
Actionline
A weekly opportunity
to make a difference
for animals
PAWS Campaign Against Circuses That Use Performing Animals
Important Links
PAWS Animal Cruelty Resources and Links
Legislative Links
Washington State- House of Representatives
- Senate
Federal
- House of Representatives
- Senator Maria Cantwell
- Senator Patty Murray
Vote Smart is an excellent resource for all sorts of legislation.
Please direct questions or comments to info@paws.org. To unsubscribe, or subscribe to additional newsletters, please click here. If the PAWS Actionline was forwarded to you and you would like to subscribe, click here. The Actionline and other PAWS services rely entirely on your donations. Please give to PAWS.
Progressive Animal
Welfare Society
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046
Attention Seattle residents: Voice your concerns over Seattle's proposed changes to its animal control code
Seattle City Council is holding a public meeting next Tuesday, May 6th at 5:30 pm to hear citizen testimony on proposed changes to the animal control code drafted by City Councilmember, Jan Drago.
For nearly two years, PAWS has participated on an expert panel convened by Councilmember Drago, to recommend amendments to the City's animal control code, mostly revolving around dangerous dog laws. Panel members who served with PAWS, including animal behaviorists, veterinarians, dog advocate groups, City Parks Commissioners, Seattle-King County Health Board members and Seattle Animal Control Commissioners put a great deal of effort into analyzing Seattle's law, studying model dangerous dog legislation and proposing recommendations that would better balance public safety, animal welfare, and due process rights for dog guardians. The panel also proposed prohibiting the auctioning or raffling off of companion animals as prizes or gifts at fundraising events.
Hundreds of citizens attended a previous City Council public hearing on April 3, 2003 to express support for the Panel's proposed recommendations. While Councilmember Drago did include some of the Panel's recommendations into the proposed ordinance, there are many others that have been ignored, such as the proposal to ban the auctioning of companion animals. To view Councilmember Drago's recommendations, please visit: www.cityofseattle.net/council/dogchanges.pdf
To view the Panel's recommendations, as well as problems associated with the City's proposed ordinance, please visit the Dangerous Ordinance Group (D.O.G.) at: www.ilovemydog.org. For more information, contact PAWS Companion Animal Advocate, Tamar Puckett, (425) 742-4009, ext. 257 or tamarp@paws.org.
Please attend next week's public hearing! This is an important opportunity to critique the City's new proposed ordinance:
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2003
Time: 5:30 pm
Location: Seattle City Council Chambers
Municipal Building
600 4th Avenue, 11th Floor
Thank the Everett City Council for speaking up for animals
Last week, Councilmembers unanimously passed a mandatory, citywide spay/neuter policy, which will take effect this month. Now, all animals who are adopted from the Everett Animal Shelter will first be spayed or neutered before going home with their new family. The Everett Council also unanimously voted in favor of increased adoption fees ($75 for adult dog, $60 for adult cat, $90 for puppy, $75 for kitten) which will include spay/neuter, microchipping, vaccination and a free vet exam certificate. Everett will be contracting with local veterinarians to perform the spay/neuter surgery and other veterinary services.
In addition, Councilmembers unanimously voted to participate in Snohomish County's regional licensing plan, which will help reduce the number of stray animals in communities throughout the County, and ultimately reduce the number of animals euthanized every year. PAWS has worked hard in collaboration with Everett city officials, volunteers, shelter staff and Everett residents in making this a reality. This legislation is yet another victory for the animals in Snohomish County. If you are an Everett resident, please take a moment to contact Mayor Anderson and Everett City Councilmembers to thank them for their support of this important legislation.
PAWS efforts in the Cities of Edmonds and Everett have helped make the Puget Sound region one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country that alters all of its shelter animals prior to adoption!
Tell Texas Parks and Wildlife that cruelty toward wildlife is unacceptable
Amateur video captured a Fort Bend County game warden dragging an alligator behind his truck and then shooting it to death on April 24th. For the complete story, visit the Houston Chronicle at www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/1891229.
Please send your comments to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/doform?.
Help stop mass extermination of Richardson's ground squirrels
The second annual wildlife killing contest known as the Ken Turcot Memorial Gopher Derby, sponsored by the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation, begins on May 1, 2003 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Last year, over 60,000 Richardson's ground squirrels were slaughtered in the name of this inhumane, unethical and unnecessary sport.
Please contact the following Canadian officials and urge them to cancel this event and permanently ban all wildlife-killing contests in Canada:
Mr. Derrek Stanley, President, Canadian Wildlife Federation
Lorne Scott, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
Hon. Mr. Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Hon. Buckley Belanger, Saskatchewan Minister of the Environment
Mr. Doug Fyfe, Canada Tourism Commission
e-mail addresses:
info@cwf-fcf.org; info@swf.sk.ca; webadmin@justice.gc.ca; bbelanger@serm.gov.sk.ca; fyfe.doug@ctc-cct.ca
Celebrate "Be Kind to Animals Week" May 4 to 10
American Humane created "Be Kind to Animals Week" in 1915 to encourage humane education in the United States. This year, PAWS asks you to focus on developing compassion towards all animals, within yourself, your family, and your friends.
Support vegetarian restaurants in Washington state:
www.paws.org/work/factsheet/advocacyfactsheets/restaurants.html
Support cruelty-free companies: www.paws.org/work/factsheet/advocacyfactsheets/companies.html
Become a member of PAWS: https://commerce.realimpact.net/paws/member/
