August 2010 - Media-advisors

Re: [Media-advisors] FW: Some thoughts on banning pet sales from Philip
by Jonathan Harris 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

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FW: Some thoughts on banning pet sales from Philip
by Elizabeth Y 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

Thoughts? -----Original Message----- From: Philip Gerrie <glassgerrie(a)gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 10:32 PM To: Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> Cc: Marcy <SaveABunny(a)aol.com>; Kim Flaherty <kflaherty(a)pacbell.net>; Pam Hemphill <pam.hemphill(a)gmail.com>; Rose Harris <harris.rose(a)att.net>; Elliot M. Katz DVM <emk(a)idausa.org>; Sally Stephens <stephensfw(a)mindspring.com>; Kat.Brown(a)sfgov.org; jchick73(a)yahoo.com; Mira Tweti <miratweti(a)parrotpress.net>; Teresa Murphy <teresa(a)cavyspirit.com> Subject: Re: Some thoughts on banning pet sales from Philip A last minute heads up! Talks with ACC today pointed out an over looked important consideration. Political timing. This is crystal ball gazing but consider this; this is an important issue that conservatives will love to make fun of. "Looney San Francisco" What progressive Supervisor would risk taking it up three months before an election? What Supervisors would vote for it now?? There will be 5 new Supervisors in after November. Remember how the democrats blamed Newsom in 2004 advocating for gay marriage? Some attributed democratic losses linking that issue with democrats in general. After the election would be a time to get it through. I feel that steam roller energy for coming out an advocating for a ban. But if it doesn't go well with the Sups now the whole effort will be for naught. Part of our strategy must be proper timing for the best possible outcome. Even if the Sups passed it, they would need a veto proof number to over ride a possible mayoral veto. There is interest in adopting Teresa's SPARC concept for the interim period. Giving it a try. In the three years I've been on the ACWC I have grown more passionate about animal issues as I've learned more about the food and pet industrial complex. But I also want to actually help the animals. Let's wait for pushing for a ban until after the election. Thoughts? Comments? Philip On Aug 11, 2010, at 3:55 PM, Elizabeth Young wrote: a correction and another thought- CORRECTION: Moratorium: It also occured to me that a moratorium on pet sales until there are more qualified potential adopters waiting in line to adopt animals from shelters and rescues than there are surrenders might be a solution (removes the RESTRICTION when the cruelty stops). ANOTHER THOUGHT: What if it was illegal to BUY a pet in SF? This is crazy and unworkable for a whole bunch of reasons but what if pet stores had to have prominent signage in their stores that said buying a pet was illegal in SF because there is a pet overpopulation problem and it condemned innocent animals to homelessness and euthanasia as surplus and directed them to adopt from rescues and shelters instead. Would they still choose to sell? Would people still choose to buy? Most likely (and sadly) Yes & Yes. P.S. I'm not having any second thoughts or doubts, just thinking out loud. e On Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:09 PM, Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> wrote: Moratorium: It also occured to me that a moratorium on pet sales until there are more qualified potential adopters waiting in line to adopt animals from shelters and rescues than there are surrenders might be a solution (removes the punishment when the cruelty stops). -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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Re: [Media-advisors] animal welfare commission mtg today?
by Jonathan Harris 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

Yes. When I got there last time (7-8), right around 5:30, only the Grove St. entrance was open. Jonathan -----Original Message----- >From: Pamela Lee <pambudgie(a)yahoo.com> >Sent: Aug 12, 2010 7:07 AM >To: media-advisors(a)mickaboo.org >Subject: [Media-advisors] animal welfare commission mtg today? > >Just wanted to confirm - meeting is today @ 5:30? Room 408 at city hall? > >Sent from my Peek - Pam >

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animal welfare commission mtg today?
by Pamela Lee 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

Just wanted to confirm - meeting is today @ 5:30? Room 408 at city hall? Sent from my Peek - Pam

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Re: [Media-advisors] FW: Some thoughts on banning pet sales from Philip
by Vincent J. Hrovat 12 Aug '10

12 Aug '10

I agree with him all around. Political timing is a potential, even probable, issue. We have no way of knowing how political timing will play out or what the next Board of Directors will look like, and we should have contingency plans in place. I'm inclined to think that this will mean little on the national scene. The battle lines have already been drawn and there's already more than enough vitriol to go around. Bill O'Reilly, for one, has already gotten what he can from this topic. Even so, I can see board members and others taking a risk-averse position until this election blows over. --VH / Sent via BlackBerry

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Fwd: Some thoughts on banning pet sales from Elizabeth
by Elizabeth Young 11 Aug '10

11 Aug '10

I sent this to Commissioner Philip's working group but, as you all know, I like to share my thoughts with you, too. I'm not carving anything in stone here, just sharing my thoughts. e ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 3:09 PM Subject: Some thoughts on banning pet sales from Elizabeth To: SaveABunny(a)aol.com, kflaherty(a)pacbell.net, pam.hemphill(a)gmail.com, harris.rose(a)att.net, glassgerrie(a)gmail.com, emk(a)idausa.org, stephensfw(a)mindspring.com, Kat.Brown(a)sfgov.org, jchick73(a)yahoo.com Hello- I wanted to share my latest thoughts on the proposed ban on pet sales with you, just FYI. Public Response: If the public response to this discussion had been, "Oh! We had no idea! We don't want to buy pets if there are so many homeless and in need of adoption", then I would suggest that education would suffice but the fact that so many people skipped right over that and went straight to, "It's our right to buy whatever we want, consequences to innocents be damned" tells me that a humane law needs to be imposed. (It reminds me of the King Solomon story where the false mother is content to have the baby split in half!) Don't & Do: I'm wondering, if the proposed ban on pet sales is recommended, would there be any value to including what to do (spay/neuter, adopt, commit forever) along with what not to do (breed and sell), a positive vision of the humane model community that SF could be. Moratorium: It also occured to me that a moratorium on pet sales until there are more qualified potential adopters waiting in line to adopt animals from shelters and rescues than there are surrenders might be a solution (removes the punishment when the cruelty stops). When the overpopulation of pets (and a couple other things, I know) stops devaluing them, the rescues and shelters will have nice, long waiting lists of educated, qualified and approved adopters rather than the careless hoardes of surrenderers that we all face today. Just what's in my head as I gird myself for what's next. All best, Elizabeth On Tue, Aug 10, 2010 at 6:09 PM, <SaveABunny(a)aol.com> wrote: > HI All, > Please review and get back with me ASAP. This is a draft of an email to be > sent to the SF Homeless Animal Coalition and other rescue groups. It is a > combination of two Mickaboo letters with additions from me. > Please let me know before we send if there is anything you want or > recommend changed. > > Marcy Schaaf > Founder, SaveABunny > www.saveabunny.org > www.saveabunny.etsy.com > 415-388-2790 > "A New Generation of Rabbit Rescue" > Save A Bunny. Save A Life. > > In a message dated 8/10/2010 5:48:20 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > kflaherty(a)pacbell.net writes: > > Also, in order to have the statements by Thursday, is there an email > address that can be used? I got the sense from the two store owners that > are going to provide written statements that sending something via email > would be preferred and easiest for them. > > --- On *Tue, 8/10/10, SaveABunny(a)aol.com <SaveABunny(a)aol.com>* wrote: > > > From: SaveABunny(a)aol.com <SaveABunny(a)aol.com> > Subject: Re: Contacting Pet Supply Stores about Proposed Pet Sale Ban > To: kflaherty(a)pacbell.net, pam.hemphill(a)gmail.com, harris.rose(a)att.net, > glassgerrie(a)gmail.com, emk(a)idausa.org, adoptkings(a)gmail.com, > stephensfw(a)mindspring.com, Kat.Brown(a)sfgov.org, jchick73(a)yahoo.com > Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010, 5:39 PM > > HI All, > Does anyone have a P.O. Box in SF that we can have letters go to , or can > the letters be sent to SFACC in care of S.A.F.E? > I don't think any of us should use our home addresses! > > Marcy Schaaf > Founder, SaveABunny > www.saveabunny.org > www.saveabunny.etsy.com > 415-388-2790 > "A New Generation of Rabbit Rescue" > Save A Bunny. Save A Life. > > In a message dated 8/10/2010 4:28:21 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, > kflaherty(a)pacbell.net writes: > > Hi All, > > I've just finished calling the first half of stores listed on the attached > spreadsheet, and I've gotten a couple of stores that are willing to provide > written statements in support of the ban. Yay! The most common response > I'm getting, however, is that the owner/manager is unavailable/not in/out of > town and that the best way to try and reach them is by email. > > Unfortunately, I've run out of time to work on this project today, so is > there anyone who could put together an email to send out asking stores for > their support and whether they might be able to provide a written statement > and/or attend Thursday's meeting and speak in favor of the ban? > > Also, is there anyone available who could pick up where I left off > (starting with Bella & Daisy's Inc.) and call the remaining stores on the > list? I've been identifying myself as a representative from the S.A.F.E. > (Save Animals From Euthanasia) coalition. Please just continue to add to > the Contact Notes on the spreadsheet so that no one duplicates contact > efforts. > > Thanks! > > ~Kim > > -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org <http://www.rescuereport.org/> www.MickaCoo.org <http://www.mickacoo.org/> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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Sally Blanchard
by Karen Watkins 11 Aug '10

11 Aug '10

Several of us are Facebook friends with Sally so it's easy to contact her. The one thing I can do with this smartphone is surf Facebook. Karen - Don't use the strategygroup.net email address!

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Fwd: ACWC Minutes posted from July 8th meeting
by Elizabeth Young 10 Aug '10

10 Aug '10

FYI and I don't know what the S A F E concept is unless it is another name for Teresa's SPARC program. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Philip Gerrie <glassgerrie(a)gmail.com> Date: Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 9:26 PM Subject: ACWC Minutes posted from July 8th meeting To: SaveABunny(a)aol.com Cc: Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com>, jonathanharris(a)earthlink.net, Teresa Murphy <teresa(a)cavyspirit.com>, Sally Stephens < stephensfw(a)mindspring.com>, Pam Hemphill <pam.hemphill(a)gmail.com>, "Elliot M. Katz DVM" <emk(a)idausa.org> I like it! Well done! The minutes from the last meeting are now posted at, http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=2216. It's worth a read through to hear what everyone said and possibly respond to in public comment this Thursday. I'll stop by the one on Church at Cesar Chavez tomorrow. Philip On Aug 9, 2010, at 9:04 PM, SaveABunny(a)aol.com wrote: HI All, Any thoughts on the S. A. F. E. Concept? Is anyone able to contact stores? Marcy Schaaf Founder, SaveABunny www.saveabunny.org www.saveabunny.etsy.com 415-388-2790 "A New Generation of Rabbit Rescue" Save A Bunny. Save A Life. In a message dated 8/9/2010 7:02:45 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, adoptkings(a)gmail.com writes: Hello- I asked this and got the response that follows. I thought it merited being shared. e ** *One of the biggest, most consistent refrains of bird sellers Rick French & Claudia Hunka are that there is no such thing as bird mills. This was repeated by all the Bird Clubs as if not producing litters of 12 puppies/kittens quarterly means a breeding bird's life is humane.* ** *Can you please help to cite evidence regarding the existence of bird mills? * ** *Any help on exposing this lie would be much appreciated.* ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Mira Tweti <miratweti(a)parrotpress.net> Date: Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 6:43 PM Subject: Re: "No such thing as bird mills" To: Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> Cc: Mary Long <atechi2(a)yahoo.com> By definition any bird breeding facility, that is operating by basic industry standards, is a bird mill. Get the definition for a puppy mill and swap out dog for parrot. The parent birds are kept in barren cages their whole lives. No enrichments, just a perch, nest box, food and two parrots period for their decades-long lives. And most breeders seal off the sides with metal sheets so they can't see the parrots in the cages around them. Bird breeders don't want them to be distracted! They figure w/out distractions they'll just breed round the clock. There are no baths, or if there are, they're only in cases where it's a warm climate and they get hosed down with the cage when it's cleaned. They can't bathe at will ever. These places are not set up for the comfort of the breeder birds. Breeder birds are just pieces of an assembly line. It's factory farming parrots. The babies are taken from them before they're weaned so these breeder birds have nothing. The vast majority, of all kinds of species, are featherplucked. That's a parrot mill and any breeder with pairs of breeder birds living without toys, baths, a large enough cage to be comfortable (they keep them in the smallest cages possible. Less room to move = closer proximity to the mate & supposedly = more sex. Not. And smaller cages = more room for more breeder pairds. These hard conditions exist because the majority of people are treacherous to non-human animals in general and with parrots it's so hard to breed them they go to extraordinary lengths to try. Obvious fact is they, especially the larger birds which are the hardest to breed, are not meant to be bred in captivity. Duh. It doesn't matter if a breeder has forty pair or four hundred pair, it's a parrot mill if the dynamic above is in place and knowledgeable sources I found when researching my book said to a one they are all parrot mills without question. Here are the links to "Parrots in Peril" the expose' on Martha Scudder, a breeder with 800 parrots. She kept them in a concentration camp like situation for decades and she still does. Even after a Sunday cover story in the Tacoma News Tribune (she was in that county) she wasn't shut down. There were city council hearings you can't imagine. The anti legislation faction did what they did at the hearing last month in San Fran only it was worse in Tacoma. Way worse. This was the lead story and there were several sidebars I wrote as well. All told it was a 10,000 word expose! Took up the entire first section of the sunday paper. The only one I found online at the paper's site was the lead. So I'm attaching the one on factory farming of parrots as a PDF. And any other elements I find that was part of this big expose'. Took 7 months to do. Parrots in peril | Parrots - The News Tribune http://www.thenewstribune.com/2005/12/18/367102/parrots-in-peril.html On Aug 9, 2010, at 12:44 PM, Elizabeth Young wrote: Hello- One of the biggest, most consistent refrains of bird sellers Rick French & Claudia Hunka are that there is no such thing as bird mills. This was repeated by all the Bird Clubs as if not producing litters of 12 puppies/kittens quarterly means a breeding bird's life is humane. Can you please help to cite evidence regarding the existence of bird mills? Any help on exposing this lie would be much appreciated. e -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org <http://www.rescuereport.org/> www.MickaCoo.org <http://www.mickacoo.org/> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org <http://www.rescuereport.org/> www.MickaCoo.org <http://www.mickacoo.org/> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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Bird Mill
by Karen Watkins 10 Aug '10

10 Aug '10

I sent an email to the vet in Tracy and asked if she would email Philip Gerrie and Sally Stephens about her experience at the Preferred Bird breeding facility in Florida. Let's keep our fingers crossed that she isn't on vacation. Karen

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FW: The Pet Bird Crisis is So Bad...
by Elizabeth Y 10 Aug '10

10 Aug '10

Another resource? -----Original Message----- From: Matt Smith <matt(a)projectperry.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 8:35 AM To: 'Elizabeth Young' <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> Subject: RE: The Pet Bird Crisis is So Bad... Sure thing, I look forward to seeing how it goes. I know the pet trade folks are out in force against you during this. Same types and even some individuals that were out against us a couple of years ago re: the 31 macaw case. I know what it's like to be on the other side of their lies and underhanded tactics when all you want to do is what's right for the birds. Let me know if we can ever be of further help. Matt Smith Executive Director The Central Virginia Parrot Sanctuary www.projectperry.com Join us for our Annual Fundraiser on November 6th in Fredericksburg Tickets on sale now! From: Elizabeth Young [mailto:adoptkings@gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 12:33 AM To: Matt Smith Subject: Re: The Pet Bird Crisis is So Bad... Thank you ever so much, Matt. Your support and your letter mean a great deal! Thank you for all you do to help all these innocents, Elizabeth On Mon, Aug 9, 2010 at 8:42 PM, Matt Smith <matt(a)projectperry.com> wrote: Elizabeth, sorry I couldn't get this to you sooner. I hope it helps. Let me know if you need anything changed, etc .pdf attached Matt Smith Executive Director The Central Virginia Parrot Sanctuary www.projectperry.com Join us for our Annual Fundraiser on November 6th in Fredericksburg Tickets on sale now! From: Elizabeth Young [mailto:adoptkings@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:35 PM To: Matt Smith Subject: Re: The Pet Bird Crisis is So Bad... The next meeting is 8/12. I'd suggest trying to get something in before the end of this month (while they're still deciding next steps). Thanks!!! e On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 9:21 AM, Matt Smith <matt(a)projectperry.com> wrote: Hi Elizabeth, I just checked my email and got this. When is the deadline? ______________ Matt Smith Executive Director The Central Virginia Parrot Sanctuary (540) 967-0447 Ask me about our Major Fall Fundraiser for the birds coming up in November! Tickets on sale now! Check out our e-Newsletter archives here: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs030/1101044598551/archive/110235494854… Rescued! Rehabilitated! RETURNED!? www.madmacaws.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Young" <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> To: "Matt Smith" <matt(a)projectperry.com> Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2010 10:49:12 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: The Pet Bird Crisis is So Bad... Hi, Matt- A letter detailing why you think the proposed ban would be very helpful. Send to me and I will forward to Commissioners (who've asked that I do that rather than publish their email addresses). Thanks! Elizabeth On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 6:05 PM, Matt Smith <matt(a)projectperry.com> wrote: Excellent, Elizabeth - thank you! ______________ Matt Smith Executive Director The Central Virginia Parrot Sanctuary (540) 967-0447 Ask me about our Major Fall Fundraiser for the birds coming up in November! Tickets on sale now! Check out our e-Newsletter archives here: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs030/1101044598551/archive/110235494854… Rescued! Rehabilitated! RETURNED!? www.madmacaws.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elizabeth Young" <adoptkings(a)gmail.com> To: undisclosed-recipients:; Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 9:02:08 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: The Pet Bird Crisis is So Bad... The pet bird crisis is so bad that when I attended the SF Animal Welfare Commission's meeting at City Hall on 6/10 to discuss a possible ban on the sale of pets in SF, birds had been left off the list of animals being considered, despite the fact that the Bay Area's nonprofit, all volunteer Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue is continuously overwhelmed with surrendered, abandoned and neglected pet parrots ranging from budgies and cockatiels and conures to macaws and amazons and cockatoos. Since that meeting, birds have been added to the discussion and that is very important because consumers are, for the most part, completely unaware of what parrots require for proper care. As a result, the average parrot will be mistreated despite good intentions and, because of behaviors like screaming, destructiveness and aggression, be rehomed seven times in the first ten years of their lives. Mickaboo Companion Rescue Organization (and its partner MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue) support the ban on pet bird sales in San Francisco and asks that you help us to get the word out about what is really happening with pet birds. This link http://mickaboo.org/release.pdf is a Mickaboo press release for immediate distribution. For your convenience, here are links to recent TV news coverage on the issue- Birds may be added to ban on pet sales 6/10, SF ABC Channel 7 http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=7491424 SF leaders consider bird sale ban 6/18, SF ABC Channel 7 http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=7507345 And here, in an article and a book written by award-winning animal welfare journalist Mira Tweti, detailed more completely than I ever could, are the many reasons why banning pet bird sales is the right thing to do. Plenty to Squawk About - Los Angeles Times - Award-winning LA Times Magazine expose' (which spurred the book) and helped to pass a precedent-setting bill to protect baby parrots in the pet trade (ie, pet stores & breeders selling them too young) http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jul/20/magazine/tm-parrots29 Of Parrots and People: The Sometimes Funny, Always Fascinating and Often Catastrophic Collision of Two Intelligent Species http://www.amazon.com/Parrots-People-Fascinating-Catastrophic-Intelligent/d… (It was lauded by everyone from Dr. Jane Goodall to Wayne Pacelle, Prez/CEO of the Humane Society of the US). I send you my heartfelt appreciation for your efforts on behalf of this discussion. -- Elizabeth, MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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