Friday 1:30 @ Animal Company?

Friday 1:30 @ Animal Company- who's coming?
What could we get from this meeting that would help birds?
How does Mickaboo want to collaborate with pet sellers to increase pet adoptions?
e
-----Original Message-----
From: Sally Stephens

I was thinking "why do they go through the hassle of selling animals just to sell stuff"? If we could "sell" the animals for them, they wouldn't have to. However, because our process takes longer, we would have to have some way to direct adopters to their stores. And they would have to have good stuff. On Aug 4, 2010, at 11:29 PM, Elizabeth Y wrote:
Friday 1:30 @ Animal Company- who's coming?
What could we get from this meeting that would help birds?
How does Mickaboo want to collaborate with pet sellers to increase pet adoptions?
e
From: Sally Stephens
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 11:05 PM To: Elizabeth Young Subject: Re: Where and what time is Friday meeting with pet sellers? Elizabeth,
The meeting on Friday, 8/5, at 1:30 pm at the Animal Company (24th St and Douglass). See you then. -- Sally
-----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Young Sent: Aug 4, 2010 2:29 PM To: Sally Stephens Subject: Where and what time is Friday meeting with pet sellers?
Hi, Sally-
I am able to attend. What time will it be and where? I'm working on getting some more senior Mickaboo leaders to attend as well.
All best, Elizabeth
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Elizabeth Young
Date: Mon, Aug 2, 2010 at 10:11 PM Subject: Re: Meeting w/pet store owners and others?? To: Sally Stephens Hi, Sally-
I am able to attend. What time will it be and where? I'm working on getting some more senior Mickaboo leaders to attend as well.
All best, Elizabeth
On Sun, Aug 1, 2010 at 12:22 AM, Sally Stephens
wrote: Elizabeth. Sorry I didn't get back to you. It was held yesterday. We had a long discussion, especially any alternatives the pet store owners had to offer, including the idea of somehow certifying certain stores to sell animals (similar in concept to taxi medallions, with a limited number of certifications allowed in the city and stringent requirements to get the certification), limiting any ban to national chains, having adoption fairs with various rescue groups at pet stores, pet stores taking small animals from ACC, and a ban that only applies to new stores (existing stores grandfathered in as long as owner remains the same).
We'll meet next Friday, not sure when, to continue the discussion. We're hoping to get more rescues to attend that meeting. Would you be able to make that meeting? -- Sally
-----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Young Sent: Aug 1, 2010 3:12 AM To: Sally Stephens , Karen Watkins , Tammy Azzaro Cc: Michelle Yesney Subject: Re: Meeting w/pet store owners and others??
Hi-
I wanted to follow up on this and see if the meeting was held on Friday or will be tomorrow or ?
Thanks, Elizabeth
On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 10:20 AM, Elizabeth Young
wrote: Hi, Sally- We just can't get anyone who's available midday on a weekday but both Tammy & Karen (cc'd) would attend if this could be rescheduled to this Sunday, 8/1.
Elizabeth
On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 2:42 PM, Sally Stephens
wrote: Hi Elizabeth, The idea is this is a small group, so it's just Rick French and his wife from Animal Co, and John Ito from Animal Connection on Judah. I'm hoping someone from ACC will be there (haven't heard back from them yet), as well as myself and Philip Gerrie. Also the woman from the WIngs Foundation. So, if a few from your organization want to come, that'd be great. The idea behind this is to just see what, if any, common ground there may be from various people involved in the issue and to brainstorm ways all the different groups could work together to save animals and increase adoptions. -- Sally
-----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Young Sent: Jul 27, 2010 4:00 PM To: Sally Stephens Cc: Michelle Yesney Subject: Re: Meeting w/pet store owners and others??
Hi, Sally-
If it was anything that I could change/rearrange so that I could attend, I would but this is an immovable schedule conflict.
How many pet sellers do you expect? Mickaboo would actually like to send a couple of people (if we can find folks that can work it schedule-wise). Are other rescue folks invited as well?
e
On Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 9:26 PM, Sally Stephens
wrote: Sorry you can't make it. Thanks for passing the invite along to others at Mickaboo. -- Sally -----Original Message----- From: Elizabeth Young Sent: Jul 27, 2010 12:15 AM To: Sally Stephens Subject: Re: Meeting w/pet store owners and others??
Hi, Sally-
I am unavailable all day Friday. I have shared this invite with other Mickaboo leaders in the hopes that someone will be able to join you. I will let you know as soon as I do.
Thanks, Elizabeth
On Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 8:16 PM, Sally Stephens
wrote: Hi Elizabeth, Would you be willing/able to meet with me, Philip Gerrie, and reps of pet stores and ACC to discuss the proposed ban on the sale of animals at pet stores? The idea is to exchange ideas and perspectives and to see if there is any common ground for the various sides of the issue. We're looking to meet this Friday, July 30 at about 1:30 or so somewhere in Noe Valley (likely a restaurant or coffeeshop). Can you join us? -- Sally
-- 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
-- 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

"why do they go through the hassle of selling animals just to sell stuff"?
Rick French summarized the answer to this question by saying that "people will go to Berkeley" to get their bird and up-front supplies if animal sales are banned in SF. He was talking, of course, about --VH

(A curious Brown-Headed parrot hit the "Send" button, which is how you came to receive a partial copy of this message.)
"why do they go through the hassle of selling animals just to sell stuff"?
Rick French summarized the answer to this question by saying that "people will go to Berkeley" to get their bird and up-front supplies if animal sales are banned in SF. He was talking, of course, about Your Basic Bird on College Avenue. He is correct that the retailer which sells the bird usually gets to sell the cage, first batch of toys and food, sandpaper perches, do-it-yourself antibiotics, and any other crud they can tack on. One could counter this argument, somewhat, by stating that a store like Animal Company could sell more consumables if their customers were Mickaboo-educated, because these customers would be more likely to buy more toys, better food, play gyms, etc. However, I do think that Rick has a good point about lots of sales volume potentially leaving his store without sales of live birds, and that, as long as Preferred Birds and Your Basic Bird, among others, are still in business, this will be hard to change. How Mickaboo can help him overcome this is somewhat of a challenge for two reasons. First, our approval process is more than they want to deal with, and, second, they guy is not making any friends within our organization, so I don't think that many volunteers will be anxious to work with him. The first thing that needs to happen is for him to chill. One talking point for the meeting might be that Mickaboo has been around for a long time, and has rescued thousands of birds (at least, over a thousand) and is not going anywhere, and that the handwriting is on the wall about the bird overpopulation crisis. In short, Animal Connection and others should, for their own good, stop being stubborn and seriously consider alternative business plans that don't involve the sale of live animals and which favor rescued animals and strategic partnerships with rescue organizations. This is only going to become a bigger deal and I think that, whether they admit it or not, they know it. Will this sound like we are holding them over a barrel? They might perceive it that way. As others have stated here, our organization is being challenged and, well, the truth is on our side. Regarding the question, "we want to go and say we won't collaborate with pet sellers," I am inclined to say yes, unless they are selling exclusively rescued birds. --VH

I think if SF does the ban, then Berkeley will be next. On Aug 5, 2010 10:22 AM, "Vincent J. Hrovat" <1217@vhrovat.org> wrote: (A curious Brown-Headed parrot hit the “Send” button, which is how you came to receive a partial copy of this message.)
"why do they go through the hassle of selling animals just to sell stuff"?
Rick French summarized the answer to this question by saying that “people will go to Berkeley” to get their bird and up-front supplies if animal sales are banned in SF. He was talking, of course, about Your Basic Bird on College Avenue. He is correct that the retailer which sells the bird usually gets to sell the cage, first batch of toys and food, sandpaper perches, do-it-yourself antibiotics, and any other crud they can tack on. One could counter this argument, somewhat, by stating that a store like Animal Company could sell more consumables if their customers were Mickaboo-educated, because these customers would be more likely to buy more toys, better food, play gyms, etc. However, I do think that Rick has a good point about lots of sales volume potentially leaving his store without sales of live birds, and that, as long as Preferred Birds and Your Basic Bird, among others, are still in business, this will be hard to change. How Mickaboo can help him overcome this is somewhat of a challenge for two reasons. First, our approval process is more than they want to deal with, and, second, they guy is not making any friends within our organization, so I don’t think that many volunteers will be anxious to work with him. The first thing that needs to happen is for him to chill. One talking point for the meeting might be that Mickaboo has been around for a long time, and has rescued thousands of birds (at least, over a thousand) and is not going anywhere, and that the handwriting is on the wall about the bird overpopulation crisis. In short, Animal Connection and others should, for their own good, stop being stubborn and seriously consider alternative business plans that don’t involve the sale of live animals and which favor rescued animals and strategic partnerships with rescue organizations. This is only going to become a bigger deal and I think that, whether they admit it or not, they know it. Will this sound like we are holding them over a barrel? They might perceive it that way. As others have stated here, our organization is being challenged and, well, the truth is on our side. Regarding the question, “we want to go and say we won't collaborate with pet sellers,” I am inclined to say yes, unless they are selling exclusively rescued birds. --VH

I think if SF does the ban, then Berkeley will be next.
That might well be true, but it'll probably be several months, perhaps over a year, until that happens. Berkeley City Council will want to see how this plays out in SF and decide whether it's politically advantageous to follow up on it or leave it alone between now and the next election. I am guessing that The Animal Company, like many retailers, is scraping right now and might not survive that long unless they have already modified their business plan. --VH

I've met the person from the Humane Commission in Berkeley who supervises the animal shelter and she is very passionate about animal rescue. She would go for a ban in a minute if she thought she could get it passed. From: media-advisors-bounces@mickaboo.org [mailto:media-advisors-bounces@mickaboo.org] On Behalf Of Vincent J. Hrovat Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2010 12:12 PM To: 'Mickaboo media advisor team' Subject: Re: [Media-advisors] Friday 1:30 @ Animal Company?
I think if SF does the ban, then Berkeley will be next.
That might well be true, but it'll probably be several months, perhaps over a year, until that happens. Berkeley City Council will want to see how this plays out in SF and decide whether it's politically advantageous to follow up on it or leave it alone between now and the next election. I am guessing that The Animal Company, like many retailers, is scraping right now and might not survive that long unless they have already modified their business plan. --VH

One suggestion if the ban isn't approved: all pet stores owners should be required to donate two days a month working at the SFACC in every legally allowed capacity (and I don't mean administrative).

stating that a store like Animal Company could sell more consumables if their customers were Mickaboo-educated, because these customers would be more likely to buy more toys, better food, play gyms, etc.
We can show our own decimated credit cards to document how much an educated bird owner will spend on his/her loved bird(s). Seriously, show them what kind of sales they could be making for quality stuff.
One talking point for the meeting might be that Mickaboo has been around for a long time, and has rescued thousands of birds (at least, over a thousand) and is not going anywhere, and that the handwriting is on the wall about the bird overpopulation crisis. In short, Animal Connection and others should, for their own good, stop being stubborn and seriously consider alternative business plans that don’t involve the sale of live animals and which favor rescued animals and strategic partnerships with rescue organizations. This is only going to become a bigger deal and I think that, whether they admit it or not, they know it. Will this sound like we are holding them over a barrel? They might perceive it that way. As others have stated here, our organization is being challenged and, well, the truth is on our side.
and remember what happens to people who don't read the writing on the wall - it falls over and smashes them
participants (6)
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Elizabeth Y
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Karen Watkins
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Karen Watkins
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Martha Kudlacik
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Mary Long
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Vincent J. Hrovat