From: Mira Tweti <MiraTweti@CircleBlueProds.com>

Date: July 27, 2010 8:25:30 PM PDT

To: Wayne Pacelle 

Subject: Next LA Times piece on ban... 

Hi Wayne,

Per Elizabeth's request below I'm forwarding her email.  I had no part in composing it but I did think the quote you gave the LA Times was unfortunate because it didn't buy the ban supporters any currency and it was a perfect opportunity to weigh in. 

I pitched Carla on this story coupla weeks ago. She wanted to do it.. She said the same when we connected today. She's not daunted about the piece that ran but she is looking for a hook to do another. 

Please, do a blog & come out in support.  Or - send an email to Commissioner Philip Gerrie (glassgerrie@gmail.com) saying so. He's the he Animal Control & Welfare Commissioner that proposed it.  If you do the latter let me know & I'll get a copy from him & slip it to Carla. It's a good news hook & she could run with it as an exclusive (before your blog of course). That would be great for her and the ban.

I've been staying in touch w/ Gerrie. After hearing all the testimony he told me he's still fully supporting a ban and so is at least one other commissioner.  He thinks it will pass at the next meeting Aug 13. To do so, it needs a majority vote of the seven. 

One reason it can pass regardless of public opinion: the commission doesn't have to bow to public sentiment. They are charged with protecting animals within city limits based on the welfare of the animals. And, there's that precedent from the bunny & chick ban in effect for decades. (You gotta give SF credit. They are so far ahead of the curve when it comes to doing the right thing regardless of what the rest of the country does or thinks.) 

So that's good news but: 

 - the commissioners are going to get a ton of shit for that decision if they do make it.

 - the pressure is going to increase from breeders/pet stores to convince them otherwise every day closer to a vote. 

-  they're not all on board yet. 

Right now the only influential opinions reaching the public are local papers laughing at the idea in news pieces & editorials. They say they don't think small animals are worth anyone's time or attention, not even this commission's. 

I got pulled into this too. I was minding my own business until I got contacted and asked to come to speak at the hearing earlier this month. I didn't even know about it then. Now I see that a ban is crucial for the obvious reasons and because it is poised to have a domino effect. As you probably know, the head of animal Services here in LA &, I think it was Bloomberg in NY (or someone near him in rank) both said publicly they are watching to see what happens in SF because they're considering proposing  the same.

HSUS carries so much weight your endorsement would go miles to neutralize and quiet all the naysayers.  And maybe most importantly, it would give needed backbone to the commissioners who, in all their years, have never seen pressure like this. 

As always warm regards, 

Mira

PS You should meet Gerrie he's a good ally.  I had dinner w/him & Elizabeth after the hearing earlier this month. He's mild mannered & unassuming with a huge heart for animals and balls big enough to fight for them. Look him up the next time you're in the bay area if you have time. 

PPS Has Lisa landed?

Begin forwarded message:

From: Elizabeth Young <adoptkings@gmail.com>

Date: July 27, 2010 5:47:05 PM PDT

To: Mira Tweti <miratweti@parrotpress.net>

Subject: Fwd: Where are you?

Mira-

 

Please do me a favor and forward this to Wayne if at all possible.  I doubt he'd ever see it at the email address I have.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Elizabeth Young <adoptkings@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 5:45 PM
Subject: Where are you?
To: Wayne Pacelle <blog@humanesociety.org>
Cc: Mira Tweti <miratweti@parrotpress.net>, Tammy Azzaro <tammyazzaro@gmail.com>, Michelle Yesney <msyesney@gmail.com>, Philip Gerrie <glassgerrie@gmail.com>

Dear Wayne,

 

I've been such a big fan and supporter of yours and I so appreciate all the whirlwind of good you've been doing all over the country and the world for animals (and for us people when we have sense enough to realize it).  I even cheered your effort with Michael Vick.  That took real guts and vision.

 

But where are you now for all the many unwanted pets in San Francisco?  I never dared dream so big that SF might consider banning the sale of pets but when that opportunity came along, me and other completely overwhelmed and overworked animal rescue VOLUNTEERS jumped at the chance to fight this David & Goliath battle.  With all the overwhelming amount of work we're already doing on behalf of unwanted birds and animals in SF, we've taken on still more to help this measure gain strength and attention. 

 

We know we're facing astronomical odds, but we're taking on the challenge in the hope that we can not only help the unwanted and abandoned and facing-euthanasia pets of SF but elsewhere as this planted seed begins to grow.

 

But where are you?  So far, I've read a recommendation from the HSUS that cockatiels and budgies and other small birds continue to be sold!  Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue was STARTED 15 years ago to help all the thrown-away cockatiels!  We've had to grow with the demand and now serve everything from finches and doves to cockatoos and macaws and everybody in between. We currently have more than FIFTY cockatiels alone in foster care waiting for good adopters and so many more would-be-surrenderers that we've had to impose a moratorium on intake.  We do NOT think these smart, sensitive birds are good choices to be sold when there are SO many already out there in need of good homes.  Their life spans are 20-30 years.  They are disposed of in hordes- just check craigslist or the Ebay classifieds.

 

And then, the next thing, I read your quote in Maria La Granga's LA Times article.  Great.  So we don't even have the support of the HSUS.

 

Well, Wayne, you've been a leader in many, many of these fights but you're bringing up the rear in this one.  Personally, I really wish you'd catch up and help us.

 

We and all these many homeless pets could use the support.  If San Francisco, the city of Saint Francis, can't be a sanctuary city for pets, where in America will be?

 

Thanks for all that you do and please- do a little bit more.

 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Young, Mickaboo Volunteer
--
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