We need to support these groups that are genuine and who truly care.

HSUS is still towing the same old line here. Here’s part of their official report/recommendations to San Luis Obispo.

Lots of “mandatory” this and that AND a call to slaughter ALL dogs from any “fighting” situation, including puppies.

HSUS reportedly charged SLO County $22,874 for a review of their Animal Services

Dept. Here are a couple of interesting sections inserted into the report by HSUS

issued June 2008. The entire report can be found at:

http://tinyurl.com/9mkoun

9.7 ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE REVIEW

Page 152 – 154:

The majority of the ordinances were comprehensive and functional. Through interviews with

staff, the following ordinances were recommended to be included in all areas of enforcement

jurisdictions:

• Mandatory cat licensing/registration

• Definition of feral cat colonies

• Definition of prohibited animals

• Mandatory microchipping

• Restraint ordinance that requires animals to be behind a secure enclosure

• Spay/neuter requirement unless the owner has a breeders license

Recommendations:

􀀹 Task a review board with examining the ordinances and consider joining them so that

there is one uniform animal ordinance for all contract jurisdictions.

􀀹 Work closely with the County administrators and attorneys to address the needed

ordinance changes from the suggestions listed above and any other ordinances

deemed necessary for revision or inclusion. SLOCAS must be involved in the

creation of ordinances that they will be charged with enforcing.

􀀹 Review ordinances yearly to gauge effectiveness of the animal control program and to

ensure that the mission of creating safe neighborhoods for both people and pets are

being met.

􀀹 Design and distribute a flyer or brochure in Spanish that outlines basic animal laws

for the cities and the County.

􀀹 Advertise the agency’s Web site as a source of information about animal control

ordinances.

􀀹 Contact The HSUS for examples of progressive animal-related ordinances that have

been implemented in other areas as SLOC and other contract municipalities update

their ordinances.

􀀹 Provide training and continue to foster the relationship with the SLOCSD and other

law enforcement agencies to better educate police officers on the crime of animal

cruelty. Since most forms of animal cruelty are felony offenses, law enforcement’s

involvement is not only beneficial, it is required to prosecute a felony crime. Law

enforcement jurisdictions should assign a detective that SLOCAS can go to regarding

criminal cruelty cases for advice, direction, investigation, and prosecution. SLOCSD

and other police agencies also need to give SLOCAS the ability to instruct police

officers on animal cruelty and the role that the police departments play in such

offenses.

Discussion:

According to Animal Control Management, A Guide for Local Governments, [my notes: This is

a HSUS book, written by someone at HSUS. See http://tinyurl.com/yzd8wx ]

the following animal control laws should be strived for over time:

􀂾 Mandatory registration

􀂾 Citation and impoundment fees

􀂾 Dangerous-dog laws

􀂾 Rabies control

􀂾 Restraint laws

􀂾 Nuisance laws

􀂾 Pooper scooper laws

􀂾 Animal limitation

􀂾 Security bond provisions

􀂾 Other provisions such as:

• Regulation of pet shops

• Reporting by animal dealers

• Animal cruelty and neglect

• Keeping of wild, exotic, and novelty animals

• Animal events

• Guard dogs

• Pet giveaway prohibition

• Pound seizure prohibition

• Breeding restrictions

Animal control laws are really quality of life laws. Communities with good animal control

ordinances are generally better places to live because they provide good enforcement policies

and procedures and empower enforcement personnel by giving them the tools they need to

address the issues. In these places, barking dogs do not disturb the citizens’ quality of life,

citizens and mail carriers can walk down the streets without fear of being attacked, and

public places and parks are not soiled with dog feces. Would ordinance changes reduce the

number of animals coming into the shelter or improve citizens’ quality of life? If so, they

should be addressed. However, it is important to keep in mind that additional ordinances

usually have costs associated with them. Lawmakers need to understand that animal control

laws are a very important part of the makeup of a good community.

9.9 DOGFIGHTING

Pg 157 – 158:

Recommendations:

􀀹 Develop a written SOP covering dogfighting in conjunction with the sheriff’s

department. Such a policy should outline what signs to look for that might indicate

fighting activity. This SOP should explain how to safely make inquiries and gather

information from the public. The SOP should also specify how that information is to

be presented to the appropriate investigators.

􀀹 Encourage ACOs to utilize The HSUS Animal Fighting and Cruelty campaign Web

site and to read related articles in Animal Sheltering magazine.135, 136, 137

􀀹 Provide all ACOs and law enforcement officers in the County with training on the

recognition of wounds, training equipment, and other signs indicative of dogfighting.

􀀹 Coordinate communications and training exercises with the gang unit of the

SLOCSD. If either agency has knowledge of dogfighting, they need to ensure that

both sides are aware of the incident and develop an investigation protocol between

SLOCAS and the SLOCSD.

􀀹 Provide the opportunity for every ACO to attend dogfighting investigation workshops

when available. These workshops move around the country and can be brought within

driving distance of SLOC so no overnight travel or airfare would be required. The

HSUS can provide contact information for future dogfighting training courses.138

􀀹 Work in conjunction with state police departments if SLOCAS has issues with illegal

animal fighting in the future. The investigation of illegal animal fighting activities by

local law enforcement, animal control, and humane agencies is frequently difficult,

frustrating, and unsuccessful. The lack of success is most often due to circumstances

beyond the control of the investigating agency. Because of the specialized nature of

the criminal activity, participants are often scattered over a wide area involving

multiple jurisdictions. The broad distribution of participants may present certain

difficulties unless the investigation effort is tightly coordinated among a number of

law enforcement agencies.

􀀹 The HSUS recommends that no dogs seized from dogfighting operations, even

puppies, be placed for adoption or transferred to placement partners. Although some

of the dogs and puppies seized may appear perfectly friendly, it is important that

SLOCAS err on the side of caution. Puppies that come from fighting lines may be

unpredictable and dangerous as they mature. SLOCAS does not need that liability,

and the community does not need a potentially dangerous dog.

132 Naca News, “Mo’ Licenses Mo’ Fees Mo Money!?,” September–October 2003 CR

133 HSUS Animal Sheltering magazine, “Taking License With an Ad Campaign,” September–October 1999+

134 HSUS Animal Sheltering magazine, “You’ve Got a (Pet Friendly) Friend in Pennsylvania,” September–

October 2000+

135 http://www.hsus.org/acf/fighting/dogfight/

136 HSUS Animal Sheltering magazine, “Dogfighting Investigations,” July–August 2006+

137 HSUS Animal Sheltering magazine, “The Costs of Dogfighting,” November–December 2007+

138 http://www.humanesocietyu.org/.....nd_classes

Allan. I agree that HSUS is positioned to do wonderful things, and I have friendships with many people in that org that own and support pit bulls. But the decisions that leave homeless pit bulls out in the cold come from the top brass and so far, despite best efforts, they’ve been unwilling to be ‘educated.’