Animal Issues Forum - Tuesday, August 3
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Terrazas Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez
6:30 - 7:00 Animal Events in August-September
Speakers will provide information about the upcoming animal events: Ringling Brothers Circus Protest (August 18-22); Puppy Mill Awareness Day (September 19); Texas Humane Legislation Network Conference (September 24-26) and Austin No Kill Workshop (September 28).
7:00 - 7:30 Outreach to Spanish speakers and Latino(a) community
Bobbie Garza-Hernandez (formerly Enriquez) has been providing communications services on large scale public and private projects through Enriquez & Associates (renamed Pink Consulting) since mid 1997. A major portion of her service has focused on the development and implementation of large scale community outreach initiatives, with emphasis in minority communities.
7:30 - 8:00 Update on Austin's No Kill Initiatives
Status of RFP, Donations Fund, City of Austin budget process, search for new director, the Public Awareness Task Force, the Rescue Task Force and the Pit Bull Task Force and the Animal Advisory Commission.
8:00 - 8:30 Small group discussions on above topics
Thursday, July 29, 2010
CALENDAR OF AUSTIN ANIMAL-RELATED EVENTS
July 29 Public Awareness Task Force
August 3 Animal Issues Forum - 6:30 pm Terrazas Library
August 10 Pit Bull Task Force
August 11 Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting
August 14 Pints for Pits
August 18 - 22 Ringling Brothers Circus Protest
September 19 Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 24-26 Texas Humane Legislation Network Conference
September 28 Maddie's Fund No Kill Conference
August 3 Animal Issues Forum - 6:30 pm Terrazas Library
August 10 Pit Bull Task Force
August 11 Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting
August 14 Pints for Pits
August 18 - 22 Ringling Brothers Circus Protest
September 19 Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 24-26 Texas Humane Legislation Network Conference
September 28 Maddie's Fund No Kill Conference
Sunday, July 18, 2010
July 26 AAC Donations Fund Committee Meeting
July 27 Rescue Task Force
July 29 Public Awareness Task Force
August 3 Animal Issues Forum
August 10 Pit Bull Task Force
August 11 Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting
August 14 Pints for Pits
August ___ - ___ Ringling Brothers Circus Protest
September 19 Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 24-26 Texas Humane Legislation Network Conference
September 28 Maddie's Fund No Kill Conference
July 27 Rescue Task Force
July 29 Public Awareness Task Force
August 3 Animal Issues Forum
August 10 Pit Bull Task Force
August 11 Animal Advisory Commission Regular Meeting
August 14 Pints for Pits
August ___ - ___ Ringling Brothers Circus Protest
September 19 Puppy Mill Awareness Day
September 24-26 Texas Humane Legislation Network Conference
September 28 Maddie's Fund No Kill Conference
Thursday, July 15, 2010
KXAN coverage of Petland closure
Petland to close as city moves on ban
Embattled store defends animal-sale practices
Updated: Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010, 5:49 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010, 11:50 AM CDT
Karen Brooks
AUSTIN (KXAN) - The large chain retail store Petland is closing this Sunday after being under fire for more than two years from protestors who accused the large chain store of selling pets from puppy and kitten mills, a city official said Tuesday.
Store owners have denied the accusations, saying they only get their animals from USDA-approved breeders. They told KXAN on Wednesday that they decided to close the store mainly because they thought the city had passed a ban on retail sails of dogs and cats. The city hasn't passed it yet, but it's widely considered to be inevitable, which the owner said would kill his store.
"It's very unfair," said owner Ben Guerra. "A lot of people are saying that the protestoers have won. I don't think anyone's winning, especially when 20 people are being left without a job."
Protestors said they weren't trying to close the place down, but were hoping Petland would just halt that aspect of their business - or turn away from sales to other options.
"We're not jumping for joy that theyr'e going out of business," said protester Sharon Yancy. "We would have preferred a humane option."
All the pets are gone from the store and have been transferred to other Petland stores, none of which are in Austin.
The move comes as the advisory commission considers a citywide ban on retail kitten and puppy sales because those stores often get the animals from out-of-state mills - which are notorious for subjecting animals to inhumane conditions, said David Lundstedt, vice chairman of the city's Animal Advisory Commission.
The board meets tonight to discuss that ordinance. Once the commission decides to pass it, the ordinance would need the approval of the entire city council.
Two years ago, just before Petland opened, the city banned the mass sale of "intact" puppies and kittens - those that had not been spayed or neutered - and said Petland was a specific target of that ordinance.
Petland, which has stores all over the world, is being sued by the Humane Society , which said it has investigated where the chain has purchased its pets.
Protestors have been demonstrating in front of Petland every Saturday for the past two years against puppy sales at its stores.
While one protestor said it is a bittersweet victory for them, the protestors never wanted or meant for the entire pet store to go out of business, saying they just wanted the store to change its rules for how it handled its pet sales.
Protestors will be at Petland Saturday, making it the last protest the day just before it shuts its doors.
Embattled store defends animal-sale practices
Updated: Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010, 5:49 PM CDT
Published : Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010, 11:50 AM CDT
Karen Brooks
AUSTIN (KXAN) - The large chain retail store Petland is closing this Sunday after being under fire for more than two years from protestors who accused the large chain store of selling pets from puppy and kitten mills, a city official said Tuesday.
Store owners have denied the accusations, saying they only get their animals from USDA-approved breeders. They told KXAN on Wednesday that they decided to close the store mainly because they thought the city had passed a ban on retail sails of dogs and cats. The city hasn't passed it yet, but it's widely considered to be inevitable, which the owner said would kill his store.
"It's very unfair," said owner Ben Guerra. "A lot of people are saying that the protestoers have won. I don't think anyone's winning, especially when 20 people are being left without a job."
Protestors said they weren't trying to close the place down, but were hoping Petland would just halt that aspect of their business - or turn away from sales to other options.
"We're not jumping for joy that theyr'e going out of business," said protester Sharon Yancy. "We would have preferred a humane option."
All the pets are gone from the store and have been transferred to other Petland stores, none of which are in Austin.
The move comes as the advisory commission considers a citywide ban on retail kitten and puppy sales because those stores often get the animals from out-of-state mills - which are notorious for subjecting animals to inhumane conditions, said David Lundstedt, vice chairman of the city's Animal Advisory Commission.
The board meets tonight to discuss that ordinance. Once the commission decides to pass it, the ordinance would need the approval of the entire city council.
Two years ago, just before Petland opened, the city banned the mass sale of "intact" puppies and kittens - those that had not been spayed or neutered - and said Petland was a specific target of that ordinance.
Petland, which has stores all over the world, is being sued by the Humane Society , which said it has investigated where the chain has purchased its pets.
Protestors have been demonstrating in front of Petland every Saturday for the past two years against puppy sales at its stores.
While one protestor said it is a bittersweet victory for them, the protestors never wanted or meant for the entire pet store to go out of business, saying they just wanted the store to change its rules for how it handled its pet sales.
Protestors will be at Petland Saturday, making it the last protest the day just before it shuts its doors.
Victory for Petland protesters: Petland to close
http://www.kvue.com/news/No-retail-pet-sales-in-Austin-98471124.html
by SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News
kvue.com
Posted on July 14, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:52 PM
Wednesday evening, with a unanimous vote, the City of Austin took one more step to becoming a no-kill city when it comes to animal shelters.
The Austin Animal Advisory Commission approved a proposal to ask the Austin City Council to create a ban on the retail sales of companion animals like kittens and puppies at stores.
The only store in Austin selling kittens and puppies is Petland in south Austin. Now the Southpark Meadows store will close its doors for good on Sunday, July 18th.
"You know it's going to be inevitable. There's no point in just prolonging this, the store is going to eventually have to close down," said Ben Guerra, the manager at Petland.
"We've tried to implement this no kill plan but we're not there yet, we are not no kill, we're working on it. We've got a lot of work to do. It's going to be an 18-month to two year process," added Lundstedt.
"The people that are protesting are trying to say this is a victory. How is it a victory when 19-people of our staff are being left without jobs?," questioned Guerra.
The Austin City Council is expected to tackle the issue between now and October.
The Animal Advisory Commission says that Petland was buying animals from puppy mills across the country and selling them in Austin without them being spayed or neutered, an accusation Ben Guerra denied.
"Every time animals go into the Town Lake Animal Center and have to be killed, that's tax dollars that don't have to be spent," said David Lundstedt, a member of the Austin Animal Advisory Commission.
by SHELTON GREEN / KVUE News
kvue.com
Posted on July 14, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Updated yesterday at 10:52 PM
Wednesday evening, with a unanimous vote, the City of Austin took one more step to becoming a no-kill city when it comes to animal shelters.
The Austin Animal Advisory Commission approved a proposal to ask the Austin City Council to create a ban on the retail sales of companion animals like kittens and puppies at stores.
The only store in Austin selling kittens and puppies is Petland in south Austin. Now the Southpark Meadows store will close its doors for good on Sunday, July 18th.
"You know it's going to be inevitable. There's no point in just prolonging this, the store is going to eventually have to close down," said Ben Guerra, the manager at Petland.
"We've tried to implement this no kill plan but we're not there yet, we are not no kill, we're working on it. We've got a lot of work to do. It's going to be an 18-month to two year process," added Lundstedt.
"The people that are protesting are trying to say this is a victory. How is it a victory when 19-people of our staff are being left without jobs?," questioned Guerra.
The Austin City Council is expected to tackle the issue between now and October.
The Animal Advisory Commission says that Petland was buying animals from puppy mills across the country and selling them in Austin without them being spayed or neutered, an accusation Ben Guerra denied.
"Every time animals go into the Town Lake Animal Center and have to be killed, that's tax dollars that don't have to be spent," said David Lundstedt, a member of the Austin Animal Advisory Commission.
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