RPOA is bustin their asses for FW!

Thank you Mary Beth for all you do!

TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Permission granted to crosspost.
August 3, 2009

Fort Worth City Council will hold a public hearing and "probable" vote on
the proposed animal ordinance revisions at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, August 11th.
Please e-mail rpoa@texas.net if you plan to attend. We need lots of warm
bodies to back up speakers.

The Animal Ordinance Draft is still not available but Code Compliance says
"The ordinance bill should reflect the staff recommendations currently
posted at www.fortworthgov.org/animals/ordinance and presented to City
Council." We were told the city is only required to give us 72 hours
notice.

Free parking information, city hall address and procedures for the council
meeting are on our website www.rpoatexasoutreach.org under the "Fort Worth
Link" on the right side of the Home Page. Click on the "City Council
Meeting Appearances" Link. There is other information pertaining to the
Fort Worth ordinance. RPOA has been working on this for two months now.

Talking Points:
1. Enforcement cost: at least a $9 million annual budget as in San
Antonio.

2. More animals will be killed at the Fort Worth Pound, not less.

3. Responsible pet owners whose animals are confined (not the problem) are
penalized.

4. Discriminatory to low income ethnic pet owners.

5. It has not been successful anywhere passed during the past 15 years.

6. Pet owners already pay taxes for animal control, police and fire
protection.

7. Pet owners won't go to local veterinarians for fear of being reported
as owning intact pets.

8. Enforcement of the Leash Law and educational efforts coupled with free
and low cost pet spay/neuter services for qualified low income pet owners
have been proven to produce better results.

Contact:
City Manager Dale Fisseler
Phone: (817) 392-6116
Fax: (817) 392-6134
E-mail: dale.fisseler@fortworthgov.org

Mayor Mike Moncrief
Phone: (817) 392-6118
Fax: (817) 392-2409
E-mail: mayor@fortworthgov.org

Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks
Phone: (817) 392-8808
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District8@fortworthgov.org

District 2 Councilman Sal Espino
Phone: (817) 392-8802
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District2@fortworthgov.org

District 3 Councilman W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
Phone: (817) 392-8803
Fax: (817) 392-6187
Email: District3@fortworthgov.org

District 4 Councilman Danny Scarth
Phone: (817) 392-8804
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District4@fortworthgov.org

District 5 Councilman Frank Moss
Phone: (817) 392-8805
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District5@fortworthgov.org

District 6 Councilman Jungus Jordan
Phone: (817) 392-8806
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District6@fortworthgov.org

District 7 Councilman Carter Burdette
Phone: (817) 392-8807
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District7@fortworthgov.org

District 9 Councilman Joel Burns
Phone: (817) 392-8809
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District9@fortworthgov.org

Brandon Bennett
Code Compliance Director
Phone: (817) 392-6322
Fax: (817) 870-2249
E-mail: Brandon.Bennett@fortworthgov.org

Keane Menefee
Animal Care & Control
Phone: (817) 392-7020
Fax: (817) 561-3741
Keane.Menefee@fortworthgov.org

James Agyemang
Animal Care & Control
Phone: (817) 392-7020
Fax: (817) 561-3741
James.Agyemang@fortworthgov.org

RPOA Texas Outreach (501C4 Nonprofit)
www.rpoatexasoutreach.org
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance (501C3 Nonprofit)
www.responsiblepetowners.org

900 NE Loop 410 #311-D
San Antonio, TX 78209
$15 Annual dues (January - December)
To subscribe, contact rpoa@texas.net

 

TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Permission granted to crosspost.

August 2, 2009
More information on the failure of Mandatory Pet Spay/Neuter with Intact
Animal Permits in Los Angeles, CA! Fax and/or email this information with
"Oppose Pet Spay/Neuter with Intact Animal Permits Ordinance" in the subject
line to all Fort Worth city officials below who will be voting on this
August 11th. The "Animal Rights" Industry will be using our contact
information below urging it be passed. They always do so we must outnumber
them with our opposition..

http://www.dailybre eze.com/news/ ci_12933465
Record numbers of animals crowding shelters
By Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer
Posted: 07/28/2009 07:59:11 PM PDT

Los Angeles animal shelters are seeing a record number of furry friends -
and euthanasias - as a result of the down economy.

The shelters are so overcrowded that the Department of Animal Services is
offering two-for-one cat adoptions to make room for a feline influx.

The influx also can be attributed to spay and neuter ordinances being more
difficult to enforce for cats, many of whom are free-roaming, said Capt.
Daniel Pantoja, who oversees the Harbor Animal Care Center
in San Pedro.

"I'm at capacity and every other shelter is as well," Pantoja said. "We have
cats in cages in the hallways, in the lobby, in rooms that
are supposed to be for quarantined animals. We're using every space we can."

Rescue

Area animal shelters have been experiencing a feline population explosion.
The Harbor shelter was built with 24 cat kennels and they
currently are housing 104 cats and kittens. A cat rests in a kennel in the
lobby at the Harbor shelter. Cats are being kept all throughout
the shelter.

"We need some recuperation, " said Kathy Davis, interim general manager of
the department. "We're certainly hoping at some point that the economy will
recover and, as a byproduct, people will quit turning
their animals in."

The surge in abandoned pets has continued unabated since May 2008, when
soaring job losses and home foreclosures began fueling an
increase in surrendered dogs and cats at city shelters.

In the fiscal year ending June 30, the number of dogs and cats turned in to
the city's six animal shelters soared 14 percent to 55,742 - the
highest in five years, according to city data.

But while pet adoptions increased 24 percent, so have the number of animals
killed, with cats bearing the brunt of euthanasias.

"Due to the economy, people are opening their doors and letting the animals
go because they have nowhere to take them," said Missy
Woodward of Reseda, on the board of Stray Cat Alliance.

"There's a desperate need for people to take in pets and spay and neuter
their own."

Pantoja said the new San Pedro shelter - which opened in June 2008 - was
built with only 24 cat cages.
"Twenty-four cages is not enough," he said.

The shelter at 957 N. Gaffey St. currently is holding 104 cats and 105 dogs
(with 74 dog kennels), he said, adding that animals are being euthanized for
reasons of "time and space."

"They're not sick or aggressive, but we've got to make room for new ones,"
he said.

Despite a spay-neuter law implemented last fall, the department destroyed
nearly 13,000 cats, a 30 percent increase, while unweaned
kitten kills rose 41 percent in 12 months.

Pantoja said the numbers of animals coming into the Harbor Area shelter have
grown over the past few years.

"Every summer, as soon as the heat waves start, the multiplying of cats
continues," Pantoja said. "People ignore the fact that spaying
and neutering cats is important."

The increase has incited animal welfare activists, who say the shelters are
"red-listing" - designating animals in immediate danger
of euthanasia - up to 40 cats a day.

Adding to the pressure is a decision made Tuesday by Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger to halve the mandated adoption time from six days to three,
and decrease funds to shelters as part of the 2010 state budget.

"I think it's a sad time for the animals in California," said Judie Mancuso,
founder of Social Compassion in Legislation, an animal
welfare advocacy group. "It creates a heavy burden to shelters across the
state."

Davis said that the minimum holding period for adoptable pets in Los Angeles
shelters will not change, despite the governor's action, with the average
adoption period of nine to 12 days.
"Our mission is, we're holding animals as long as we have space," she said.

Critics, however, called for a complete rethinking of animal shelter
policies to achieve the city's stated no-kill goal.

"Our shelters are failing," said Ed Muzika of the blog LA Animal Watch.
"When you kill 4,000 animals more than last year, it's not success.

He said despite more than 40,000 free spay-neuter vouchers passed out by the
city last year, cat impounds have increased dramatically. He questioned
whether the city's spay-neuter law imposed in October, which requires owners
to fix their pets, may be forcing those who can't afford surgeries to
surrender the animals to city shelters instead.

"In order for no-kill to be realized," said Muzika, "the (department) needs
a top-down analysis by the nation's top no-kill experts."

Because cats are not licensed, Pantoja said, it is more difficult to enforce
a spay-neuter law for felines. A low-cost, community spay-
neuter clinic, Clinico, now operates on the grounds of the San Pedro
shelter.

Davis said it may take three to five years to see results from the city's
spay-neuter ordinance. Meanwhile, she said gradual improvements
are being made.

A nonprofit program to encourage pet owners in South Los Angeles to keep
their pets has saved 800 dogs and cats since January, she said.

And the two-for-one- cat "Summer Buddies" program sponsored by the Found
Animal Foundation at the San Pedro and East Valley shelters and is in effect
through August.
dana.bartholomew@ dailynews. com
Staff Writer Donna Littlejohn contributed to this article.

Fort Worth City Officials Contact Info:
City Manager Dale Fisseler
Fax: (817) 392-6134
E-mail: dale.fisseler@ fortworthgov. org

Mayor Mike Moncrief
Fax: (817) 392-2409
E-mail: mayor@fortworthgov. org

Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District8@fortworth gov.org

District 2 Councilman Sal Espino
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District2@fortworth gov.org

District 3 Councilman W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
Fax: (817) 392-6187
Email: District3@fortworth gov.org

District 4 Councilman Danny Scarth
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District4@fortworth gov.org

District 5 Councilman Frank Moss
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District5@fortworth gov.org

District 6 Councilman Jungus Jordan
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District6@fortworth gov.org

District 7 Councilman Carter Burdette
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District7@fortworth gov.org

District 9 Councilman Joel Burns
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District9@fortworth gov.org

Brandon Bennett
Fax: (817) 870-2249
E-mail: Brandon.Bennett@ fortworthgov. org

Keane Menefee
Animal Care and Control
Fax: (817) 561-3741
Keane.Menefee@ fortworthgov. org

James Agyemang
Animal Care and Control
Fax: (817) 561-3741
James.Agyemang@ fortworthgov. org

 

TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Permission granted to crosspost.

August 7, 2006
RPOA has been working with our good friends at NAIA to activate their
excellent lobbying tool "Capwiz" to help us oppose the Fort Worth ordinance.
If you're not familiar with Capwiz, go to the URL below and you can write a
letter with several quick clicks that will be e-mailed to all Fort Worth
city officials. In this instance
Capwiz is set to accept emails from Texas residents only. All others will
be deleted.
After clicking on "Send" the letter will come up and can be printed out in
"Plain Text."

RPOA asks you at this point to print out the letter and FAX to the following
fax numbers:

City Manager Dale Fisseler
Fax: (817) 392-6134

Mayor Mike Moncrief
Fax: (817) 392-2409

Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 2 Councilman Sal Espino
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 3 Councilman W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 4 Councilman Danny Scarth
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 5 Councilman Frank Moss
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 6 Councilman Jungus Jordan
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 7 Councilman Carter Burdette
Fax: (817) 392-6187

District 9 Councilman Joel Burns
Fax: (817) 392-6187

Brandon Bennett
Code Compliance Director
Fax: (817) 870-2249

Keane Menefee and
James Agyemang
Animal Care and Control
Fax: (817) 561-3741

CAPWIZ LINK:
http://capwiz. com/naiatrust/ issues/alert/ ?alertid= 13845376& type=LO&show_ alert=1
OR:
http://tinyurl. com/my99u6

Fort Worth Flirts with Disaster Take Action!
August 6, 2009

Fort Worth City Council will soon be considering a new law that would
require all pets to be sterilized, unless owners acquire an intact pet
permit. This amounts to what many view as "back door mandatory spay/neuter" ,
a failed concept that will have serious unintended consequences. This
ordinance change would result in a backlash of pet owners refusing to
license or vaccinate for rabies that could have serious public health
consequences for the Fort Worth area.

The proposed ordinance changes have been made public in preliminary draft
form only, and can be viewed by clicking here. Fort Worth City Council is
scheduled to hold a hearing on the proposed changes on Tuesday, August 11 at
7:00 p.m.

The proposed ordinance changes are riddled with overly restrictive and
poorly written policy regarding tethering, dangerous dogs, and seizure, but
the spay/neuter aspect warrants the most attention.

NAIA has long advocated for reasonable laws that foster a positive
relationship between animal owners and animal services. We know that
mandatory pet laws of any nature are viewed as punitive, and therefore breed
distrust of animal services and drive people away from licensing and even
seeking proper veterinary care. Mandatory laws often infringe on pet owners
rights and wind up punishing responsible, law-abiding pet owners while
pushing the bad actors further underground.

We would encourage responsible pet owners in Texas to contact Fort Worth
officials today with the truth about punitive spay/neuter laws: they don't
work. Please use the lobbying tool and talking points below to draft and
send your message. If you live in the Fort Worth area and would be affected
by this ordinance, please also consider testifying at the hearing on August
11th.

Thank you for taking action on behalf of Texas pets and pet owners! If you
can not see the talking points below, CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION.
http://capwiz. com/naiatrust/ issues/alert/ ?alertid= 13845376& type=LO&show_ alert=1
OR:
http://tinyurl. com/my99u6

 

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This one.....

 

k I just saw this. I linked to both the thread and this link to RPOA. . .

Great stuff Simms!

 

Thank you!!!

 

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This up date is from today. Listen folks, I'm asking you all to take the time to show your support for this community the breed and all animal owners. This years agenda is a giant stepping stone for the AR movement. New Tactics, new approach at a old game. We can't let this happen here in FW or any other cities. We need to take a stand, say NO! I will not willingly let them have my animals. I hope you all don't either.

I don't care if you don't live here . Call, fax, email... do all 3 if you can. Your voice does matter!

Thank you.
Best regards.

TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Permission granted to crosspost.

August 10, 2009

REQUEST CITY COUNCIL VOTE "NO" OR POSTPONE VOTE ON FORT WORTH ANIMAL
ORDINANCE!
City Council will be voting at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night Tuesday August 11th.
Fort Worth pet owners need your help or this ordinance will pass!

City Council should send the proposed animal ordinance revisions back to the
drawing board! Endless public hearings were held by Code Compliance on
"concepts only" coupled with vague promises. But NO copy of the actual
ordinance language was available until last week. The draft is somewhat
different from the "concepts" presented by Code Compliance at those public
hearings as we expected. It's been shrouded in secrecy.

Does Fort Worth want to join the ranks of anti-pet cities in Texas like San
Antonio and Dallas? Please call, fax and email the Fort Worth officials
listed below and ask that they vote "No" or postpone a vote on this
animal-rights- inspired proposal due to the fact distribution was delayed.

Randy Turner spoke at the last hearing urging passage of the ordinance as it
had passed in Denver, CO, the anti-pet capital of the US. Knowledgeable dog
owners won't even drive through Denver for fear their dogs will be
confiscated and killed. The "animal rights" extremists are now touting
Denver as the city to emulate instead of Los Angeles, CA, since there's been
a 30% increase in animals killed in LA since their ordinance passed.

Turner is a Fort Worth resident, an attorney, past president of Texas Humane
Legislation Network, and a volunteer attorney for Animal Legal Defense Fund
(ALDF). ALDF material states their agenda is different from other animal
groups as they seek true legal standing for animals - recognition by laws
and in the courts - which allows them to launch legal action on behalf of
the animals themselves.

This would allow animals to sue veterinarians and their owners, do away with
animal "ownership" and turn animals into legal persons - ultimately to have
the law declare personhood for animals. Pet owners would only be pet
"guardians." This would be the end of using animals for food, clothing,
pets (slavery!), animal research, entertainment - the whole "animal rights"
enchilada. There would be no interaction with animals.

HSUS and Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) are taking Texas cities one
by one after failing to get a statewide mandatory pet spay/neuter law passed
with an Intact Animal Permit at the last legislative session. THLN board of
director members Joel Hailey led the charge in San Antonio; and Robert
"Skip" Trimble in Dallas. Hailey urged the San Antonio Animal Ordinance
Rewrite Committee to include a provision that would allow an individual or
organization to sue ordinance violators for enforcement and damages in civil
court. RPOA opposed such language and it was not included. North Carolina
is the only state that has such a law, Chapter 19a in general statutes. ALDF
has sued and seized animals there under this statute according to newspaper
articles.

In addition to other issues we've raised in previous emails (all under the
Fort Worth Link on our website: www.rpoatexasoutrea ch.org) there is new
information in the actual draft that we oppose. With any violations of the
ordinance, animals are subject to seizure and impoundment.

* Mandatory Spay/Neuter of all dogs and cats or Intact Pet Permit must be
purchased: The Intact Pet Permit is a subterfuge just to get this ordinance
passed - a toe in the door. The true purpose is to end ALL pet breeding in
the US. There are no set fees anywhere in this ordinance with the
stipulation that the fees will be set annually by the city. No $50 one time
"forever" permit fee. The Intact Pet Permit fee is in addition to the Pet
License Fee if you can even get it!

Applying for the permit: After receiving basic information, animal control
"may require such additional information and documentation deemed necessary
to determine whether to issue the permit."

Permit may be denied if animal control staff determines that circumstances
exist that it would not be in the interest of the animals involved or of the
health and safety of the public. If denied, pet owner can appeal to the
"director" whose decision will be final and un-appealable. So the animal
control director has the ability to decide what breeds are eliminated or
preserved should he so desire.

Animal control must be kept apprised of address, phone number, identifying,
licensing, and registration information for all animals (including any new
animals) if there are any changes.

Permit Number is required for newspaper ads. (San Antonio's Litter
Permit -- 3 newspaper ads out of hundreds listed have the permit number this
week, big failure which leads to litters being dumped).

* Mandatory Spay/Neuter required for ALL impounded dogs and cats before
release to owners when reclaimed or adopted. NO exceptions. Meter readers,
visitors and children sometimes accidentally let dogs out of backyards. Too
bad, your dog goes under the knife.
Section 10. Sec. 6-46. Requirements for adoption has been amended to
include "and reclamation. " Section 6-49, "Affirmative defense" to mandatory
spay/neuter and Section 6-50 which lists exceptions has been repealed. No
set fee for required spay/neuter deposit.

* There is NO procedure for determining an "Aggressive Dog" except being
eyeballed by an animal control officer we assume. No hearing, no appeal, no
nothing! Determination requires a 6 foot fence be built. Any aggressive or
dangerous dog determination will probably mean the pet owner cannot obtain
Homeowners Insurance which is already denied for many breeds of dogs.

This is in addition to other talking points on our website.

Hopefully for the last time, please contact all below and ask that they vote
"no" or postpone the vote:

City Manager Dale Fisseler
Phone: (817) 392-6116
Fax: (817) 392-6134
E-mail: dale.fisseler@ fortworthgov. org

Mayor Mike Moncrief
Phone: (817) 392-6118
Fax: (817) 392-2409
E-mail: mayor@fortworthgov. org

Mayor Pro Tem Kathleen Hicks
Phone: (817) 392-8808
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District8@fortworth gov.org

District 2 Councilman Sal Espino
Phone: (817) 392-8802
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District2@fortworth gov.org

District 3 Councilman W.B. "Zim" Zimmerman
Phone: (817) 392-8803
Fax: (817) 392-6187
Email: District3@fortworth gov.org

District 4 Councilman Danny Scarth
Phone: (817) 392-8804
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District4@fortworth gov.org

District 5 Councilman Frank Moss
Phone: (817) 392-8805
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District5@fortworth gov.org

District 6 Councilman Jungus Jordan
Phone: (817) 392-8806
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District6@fortworth gov.org

District 7 Councilman Carter Burdette
Phone: (817) 392-8807
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District7@fortworth gov.org

District 9 Councilman Joel Burns
Phone: (817) 392-8809
Fax: (817) 392-6187
E-mail: District9@fortworth gov.org

Brandon Bennett
Code Compliance Director
Phone: (817) 392-6322
Fax: (817) 870-2249
E-mail: Brandon.Bennett@ fortworthgov. org

Keane Menefee
Animal Care and Control
4900 Martin St.
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Phone: (817) 392-7020
Fax: (817) 561-3741
Keane.Menefee@ fortworthgov. org

James Agyemang
Animal Care and Control
4900 Martin St.
Fort Worth, TX 76119
Phone: (817) 392-7020
Fax: (817) 561-3741
James.Agyemang@ fortworthgov. org

 

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today is the day folks!