Friday, June 13th, 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.
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Progressive Animal
Welfare Society
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046
Moratorium on this years Canada goose kill still possible! Please write now!
After a meeting between representatives from PAWS and HSUS with Seattle Department of Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds this week, Parks officials appear ready to consider a moratorium on the gassing of Seattle’s Canada geese this year. While this has not been confirmed yet, we are hopeful that Ken Bounds will have listened to the expert advice of HSUS wildlife biologist, Dr. John Hadidian and PAWS wildlife veterinarian, Dr. John Huckabee and take advantage of the low numbers of geese in the park and NOW implement humane alternatives to killing this year.
Please send a polite email to Ken Bounds, thanking him for his important and timely consideration of humane and effective alternatives (you can cut and paste this message into your email). Send comments to ken.bounds@seattle.gov or call him at 206-684-8022.
Seattle City Council Passes Draft Animal Control Code Amendments
Two years ago, Seattle City Councilmember, Jan Drago, assembled an expert panel to examine and recommend changes to Seattle’s animal control code. This review panel was established in response to public opposition to amendments made to the code, mostly regarding dangerous dog laws. PAWS has served as a member of the review panel, ensuring recommendations that balance animal welfare with public safety.
The panel’s proposal included changes, such as clearer definitions to better distinguish between dogs that are truly aggressive and those that are just behaving like normal dogs, as well as due process provisions for dog guardians who receive notices that their dogs are “potentially dangerous.” The panel also recommended prohibiting the auctioning of companion animals as prizes or gifts at fundraising events. The City Council held a public hearing on April 3 to allow citizen testimony on the review panel’s recommendations. Hundreds of citizens spoke in support of these proposed changes.
Councilmember Drago then drafted legislation that included some of the panel’s recommendations, but that ignored many others, including the companion animal auction ban. By a unanimous vote, the full council passed the City’s proposed legislation on June 9. For a copy of the ordinance, please contact Barbara Clemons, Legislative Aide to Councilmember Jan Drago, (206) 684-8801 or barbara.clemons@seattle.gov. To view the panel’s recommendations, visit the Dangerous Ordinance Group (D.O.G.) website at www.ilovemydog.org.
Help Stop the Unregulated Trafficking of Exotic Pets
Earlier this year, Howard McKeon (R-CA) and George Miller (D-CA) introduced the federal “Exotic Pets” bill. House bill 1003 and Senate bill 269 aim to ban interstate commerce of large wild cats such as lions, tigers, leopards and cougars. Zoos and circuses, who are licensed by the USDA, will be excluded from the ban.
Currently interstate trafficking of large wild cats is unrestricted in the U.S. There is an estimated 5,000 tigers kept in private hands in the U.S. alone - more than thought to exist in the wild. These days a tiger cub can easily be purchased over the Internet for as low as $500. Often times these animals are not properly cared for and end up neglected or simply let loose once the animal becomes too large to care for, or the novelty wears off.
Please contact your members of Congress and ask them to support the Exotic Pets Bill. Ask your two U.S. Senators to co-sponsor S. 269 and your U.S. Representative to cosponsor H.R. 1006. To find your representatives go to www.congress.org. All legislators can also be reached through the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
