Pit Bull Task Force/Committee
Agenda for 8/31/10 meeting; TLAC, 6 – 7:30 pm
1. Sign-In/Welcome/Introductions around the room (5 mins)
2. Clarification of committee mission and goals (10 mins)
3. Overview of Committee Structure and Expectations (10 mins)
4. Review key issues that emerged from last meeting (See below) and identify top three priorities (20 mins)
5. Brainstorm ideas and outline strategy to address top three priorities (20 mins)
6. Formulate next steps and set regular meeting time/day (20 mins)
7. Adjourn
Key Issues that Emerged from Last Meeting
Strengths
Love-A-Bull as a free resource 13 votes
-Trainings 1 vote
-Community get togethers 3 votes
Trail dog program 6 votes
Love-A-Bull’s program objectives meeting goals 5 votes
Education efforts; Love-A-Bull 4 votes
Raising awareness with groups 4 votes
- Education programs
- Marketing
- Business plan for dog (pit bull)
Facebook groups- cross postings 2 votes
Billboards, posters, Facebook (Shelter Pet Project) 1 vote
Shelter adopts out pit bull types rather than not 1 vote
Love-A-Bull / Shelter relationship 1 vote
- Fosters
- Strategic
- Working relationship with other groups, nationally and locally
Grassroots education 1 vote
Representation from all groups especially after implementation plan
Respected/renamed nationwide
Community groups, schools, gang prevention units, rescues
Problem of breed identification (How to use terms to let public know pit bull is good)
-Adoption (housing) banning dangerous dogs
Opportunity
Hire behaviorist who knows about pit bulls 22 votes
Positive news stories 19 votes
Post-adoption training 11 votes
Free spay neuter 8 votes
Incentives for rescues to take pit bulls 7 votes
Evaluation public on breeds 6 votes
- At schools
PSA’s, general education 5 votes
Neighborhood association outreach 5 votes
Utilize spay/neuter funding identified in implementation plan for Emancipate designated for pit bull use 5 votes
Spay/Neuter Incentives 5 votes
Hold Love-A-Bull event @ TLAC 5 votes
Outreach to high risk neighborhoods 4 votes
Donation fund 3 votes
Outreach to all neighborhoods 3 votes
Outreach to businesses 2 votes
More funding 2 votes
Enhance computer to identify mix breeds 2 votes
Fund-raiser event (picnic?) to show dogs in different light 2 votes
Talk to neighborhood groups (turnout is low, though) 1 vote
Enhanced opportunities for non pit bull rescues to rescue pit bulls 1 vote
Get other areas of the City involved 1 vote
Speak/ do activities at churches 1 vote
- Churches with youth groups (kids could train with volunteers dogs)
Partner with other organizations for outreach
Crime Meetings
Training fliers from Love-A-Bull
Educate shelter workers/volunteers
Use meet up groups to do outreach areas
Weakness
No pit bull rescue group 14 votes
Advertising – Not enough 11 votes
Restrictiveness of apartment complexes 7 votes
-Insurance companies
Breed misidentification 5 votes
Lack of city support to adopt pit bull’s 5 votes
Expand outreach to East Austin/Other “well off” parts of City of Austin 4 votes
Education
Bad publicity 4 votes
Tendency of over-identification 3 votes
Lack of knowledge on the issues 3 votes
Redevelopment Project 2 votes
Mission Statement 1 vote
Efforts specifically general towards pit bulls
- Spay/ Neuter 1 vote
Education and outreach to children 1 vote
Identification issues 1 vote
Pet of the Week
- No images
- No pit-bulls 1 vote
Only one advocacy group – Love-A-Bull
Information focuses on negatives of pit bulls
Low manpower to set up training/outreach (volunteers)
Perception problem with pit bulls
Lack of dialogue between neighborhood groups (including but not limited to Neighborhood groups, associations, Property Managers, Owners, Landowners, Mueller
Challenges
Better utilization of volunteers 13 votes
- Utilize for maximum benefit to shelter
- Saves money
- Lack of coordination, education, training
Educating public 8 votes
Money 6 votes
Media (bad) 6 votes
Housing 6 votes
Media-Bias 5 votes
Difficulty in having a focused message 4 votes
Reputation/ Long held beliefs 4 votes
Housing/ Apartment Issues 4 votes
More off-site adoption events 3 votes
Locating pit-friendly insurance 2 votes
More Spay/Neuter 2 votes
Not enough people 2 votes
Misidentification 2 votes
Prejudice 1 vote
Misinformation 1 vote
More support needed from decision makers in community 1 vote
Image 1 vote
Need more volunteers 1 vote
Exposure 1 vote
Momentum (maintaining it)
Better protection for puppies
No kill equation needs No. 11
Clarify breed ban/ no kill
Continued challenge to overcome public perception
- Catalyst for change
Failure of city staff to understand and promote foster-to-adopt program
History of breed/dog fighting
Groups represented at the Pit Bull Task Force include:
Love-A-Bull
TLAC Volunteers
Confident Canines
Austin Pets Alive- Healthy Dogs, Healthy People
Training by TARA
Branding
APA/ APA Volunteers
Animal Issues Forum
LAB
Vision Hills Sanctuary
Animal Trustees
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Tue. Aug 31 at City Hall: Animal Issues Forum
The next Animal Issues Forum will be held on Tuesday, August 31 at City Hall during the lunch break, from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm.
The forum will start with the showing of the film "Shelter", a short (17 minutes), locally-produced documentary about the City of Austin's efforts to become "No Kill" city. "Shelter" was filmed for a class at the University of Texas by Kelly Sloan (radio-television-film student) and Lauren Dooley (public policy student). The producers will be present at the screening and will participate in a discussion with Q&A after the film. Rob Graham, a member of Austin's Animal Advisory Commission, will talk about what the AAC has already done and what it has planned to reach No Kill.
Della Lindquist, an Emancipet volunteer, will talk about outreach efforts in Montopolis and other neighborhoods that have high numbers of homeless animals and her work with the City of Austin's Spay Street Program and that program's "neighborhood captains" including an effort to recruit Spanish speaking volunteers.
Monica Hardy, the new Executive Director of the Texas Humane Legislative Network, will also be speaking about THLN's conference, September 24-26 in Austin, and her new duties as ED of THLN during the legislative session that starts in January 2011.
The forum is free and open to the public. Parking in Austin City Hall's underground garage is free as well. (Bring parking ticket inside to be validated.)
Please forward to anyone who might be interested in attending. Thanks.
Pat Valls-Trelles
Animal Issues Forum
www.animalissuesforum.org
The forum will start with the showing of the film "Shelter", a short (17 minutes), locally-produced documentary about the City of Austin's efforts to become "No Kill" city. "Shelter" was filmed for a class at the University of Texas by Kelly Sloan (radio-television-film student) and Lauren Dooley (public policy student). The producers will be present at the screening and will participate in a discussion with Q&A after the film. Rob Graham, a member of Austin's Animal Advisory Commission, will talk about what the AAC has already done and what it has planned to reach No Kill.
Della Lindquist, an Emancipet volunteer, will talk about outreach efforts in Montopolis and other neighborhoods that have high numbers of homeless animals and her work with the City of Austin's Spay Street Program and that program's "neighborhood captains" including an effort to recruit Spanish speaking volunteers.
Monica Hardy, the new Executive Director of the Texas Humane Legislative Network, will also be speaking about THLN's conference, September 24-26 in Austin, and her new duties as ED of THLN during the legislative session that starts in January 2011.
The forum is free and open to the public. Parking in Austin City Hall's underground garage is free as well. (Bring parking ticket inside to be validated.)
Please forward to anyone who might be interested in attending. Thanks.
Pat Valls-Trelles
Animal Issues Forum
www.animalissuesforum.org
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Travis County Park Ranger shoots 2-year-old boxer-mix
http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/dog-recovering-after-being-shot-by-park-ranger
Dog recovering after ranger shot him
Owner says shooting unjustified
Updated: Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 6:28 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 5:40 PM CDT
Reagan Hackleman
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Bronx, a 2-year-old boxer-mix, is doing much better today than he was on Monday.
“He’s real sore, real tender, but the swelling is actually less pronounced today,” said Dr. Matt Schuessler of the Pale Face Veterinary Clinic.
Stuck inside Bronx’s head is shrapnel from a bullet fired by a Travis County Park Ranger .
“I was kind of shocked that, that kind of action was taken,” said Schuessler.
Before Bronx was brought to Schuessler’s, he was with his owner, Stacey Hines, at Pace Bend Park in Western Travis County.
“The dogs were taking a break from swimming,” said Hines.
Hines admitted the dogs weren’t wearing their leashes, which is the law at all Travis County Parks, when a Travis County Park Ranger pulled up.
“As I’m trying to get out of the water to go talk to him, the dogs run up and start barking at him,” Hines said.
What happened next left Hines and her friend in shock.
“He [the park ranger] immediately freaked out and ran directly into the lake. I was like, 'What is he doing?' All the dogs are barking at him, and he turned around and opened fire,” said Kenna Bobinger, who was at the park with Hines.
Both Hines and Bobinger said a 4-year-old child was nearby when the ranger pulled the trigger.
The chief of the Travis County Park Rangers, Dan Chapman, said while a child might have been in the area, at no time was that child in danger.
In a report yet to be filed, the chief said his ranger was afraid for his life and said the dogs were in “attack mode.”
The vet begged to differ.
“I’ve only known probably one or two boxers to be really super-aggressive. For the most part they’ll just lick you to death. They’re really good children-type dogs,” said Schuessler.
Schuessler said those who might find themselves confronted by a dog they are uncomfortable with to simply calm down and try and leave the area where the dog or dogs are.
Bronx, who was rescued from the Town Lake Animal Center by his owners, could have permanent vision problems because of the shooting. And meanwhile, no disciplinary actions have been taken against the ranger who pulled the trigger.
According to Chapman, the ranger involved has numerous years of law enforcement experience, including a stint with the U.S. Border Patrol.
Chapman said rangers do not go through any formal training when it comes to handling dogs.
Dog recovering after ranger shot him
Owner says shooting unjustified
Updated: Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 6:28 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 5:40 PM CDT
Reagan Hackleman
AUSTIN (KXAN) - Bronx, a 2-year-old boxer-mix, is doing much better today than he was on Monday.
“He’s real sore, real tender, but the swelling is actually less pronounced today,” said Dr. Matt Schuessler of the Pale Face Veterinary Clinic.
Stuck inside Bronx’s head is shrapnel from a bullet fired by a Travis County Park Ranger .
“I was kind of shocked that, that kind of action was taken,” said Schuessler.
Before Bronx was brought to Schuessler’s, he was with his owner, Stacey Hines, at Pace Bend Park in Western Travis County.
“The dogs were taking a break from swimming,” said Hines.
Hines admitted the dogs weren’t wearing their leashes, which is the law at all Travis County Parks, when a Travis County Park Ranger pulled up.
“As I’m trying to get out of the water to go talk to him, the dogs run up and start barking at him,” Hines said.
What happened next left Hines and her friend in shock.
“He [the park ranger] immediately freaked out and ran directly into the lake. I was like, 'What is he doing?' All the dogs are barking at him, and he turned around and opened fire,” said Kenna Bobinger, who was at the park with Hines.
Both Hines and Bobinger said a 4-year-old child was nearby when the ranger pulled the trigger.
The chief of the Travis County Park Rangers, Dan Chapman, said while a child might have been in the area, at no time was that child in danger.
In a report yet to be filed, the chief said his ranger was afraid for his life and said the dogs were in “attack mode.”
The vet begged to differ.
“I’ve only known probably one or two boxers to be really super-aggressive. For the most part they’ll just lick you to death. They’re really good children-type dogs,” said Schuessler.
Schuessler said those who might find themselves confronted by a dog they are uncomfortable with to simply calm down and try and leave the area where the dog or dogs are.
Bronx, who was rescued from the Town Lake Animal Center by his owners, could have permanent vision problems because of the shooting. And meanwhile, no disciplinary actions have been taken against the ranger who pulled the trigger.
According to Chapman, the ranger involved has numerous years of law enforcement experience, including a stint with the U.S. Border Patrol.
Chapman said rangers do not go through any formal training when it comes to handling dogs.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Edison Fries an Elephant to Prove His Point
Jan. 4, 1903: Edison Fries an Elephant to Prove His Point
By Tony Long 01.04.08
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0104
Topsy the elephant was electrocuted at Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island in 1903. Captured on film by Thomas Edison, the event was one of a string of animal electrocutions Edison staged to discredit a new form of electricity: alternating current.
1903: Thomas Edison stages his highly publicized electrocution of an elephant in order to demonstrate the dangers of alternating current, which, if it posed any immediate danger at all, was to Edison's own direct current.
Edison had established direct current at the standard for electricity distribution and was living large off the patent royalties, royalties he was in no mood to lose when George Westinghouse and Nicola Tesla showed up with alternating current.
Edison's aggressive campaign to discredit the new current took the macabre form of a series of animal electrocutions using AC (a killing process he referred to snidely as getting "Westinghoused"). Stray dogs and cats were the most easily obtained, but he also zapped a few cattle and horses.
Edison got his big chance, though, when the Luna Park Zoo at Coney Island decided that Topsy, a cranky female elephant who had squashed three handlers in three years (including one idiot who tried feeding her a lighted cigarette), had to go.
Park officials originally considered hanging Topsy but the SPCA objected on humanitarian grounds, so someone suggesting having the pachyderm "ride the lightning," a practice that had been used in the American penal system since 1890 to dispatch the condemned. Edison was happy to oblige.
This portion of Edison's film Electrocuting an Elephant is taken from a German television show.
When the day came, Topsy was restrained using a ship's hawser fastened on one end to a donkey engine and on the other to a post. Wooden sandals with copper electrodes were attached to her feet and a copper wire run to Edison's electric light plant, where his technicians awaited the go-ahead.
In order to make sure that Topsy emerged from this spectacle more than just singed and angry, she was fed cyanide-laced carrots moments before a 6,600-volt AC charge slammed through her body. Officials needn't have worried. Topsy was killed instantly and Edison, in his mind anyway, had proved his point.
A crowd put at 1,500 witnessed Topsy's execution, which was filmed by Edison and released later that year as Electrocuting an Elephant.
In the end, though, all Edison had to show for his efforts was a string of dead animals, including the unfortunate Topsy, and a current that quickly fell out of favor as AC demonstrated its superiority in less lethal ways to become the standard.
(Source: Various)
Read More http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0104#ixzz0wEFCdf8c
By Tony Long 01.04.08
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0104
Topsy the elephant was electrocuted at Luna Park Zoo on Coney Island in 1903. Captured on film by Thomas Edison, the event was one of a string of animal electrocutions Edison staged to discredit a new form of electricity: alternating current.
1903: Thomas Edison stages his highly publicized electrocution of an elephant in order to demonstrate the dangers of alternating current, which, if it posed any immediate danger at all, was to Edison's own direct current.
Edison had established direct current at the standard for electricity distribution and was living large off the patent royalties, royalties he was in no mood to lose when George Westinghouse and Nicola Tesla showed up with alternating current.
Edison's aggressive campaign to discredit the new current took the macabre form of a series of animal electrocutions using AC (a killing process he referred to snidely as getting "Westinghoused"). Stray dogs and cats were the most easily obtained, but he also zapped a few cattle and horses.
Edison got his big chance, though, when the Luna Park Zoo at Coney Island decided that Topsy, a cranky female elephant who had squashed three handlers in three years (including one idiot who tried feeding her a lighted cigarette), had to go.
Park officials originally considered hanging Topsy but the SPCA objected on humanitarian grounds, so someone suggesting having the pachyderm "ride the lightning," a practice that had been used in the American penal system since 1890 to dispatch the condemned. Edison was happy to oblige.
This portion of Edison's film Electrocuting an Elephant is taken from a German television show.
When the day came, Topsy was restrained using a ship's hawser fastened on one end to a donkey engine and on the other to a post. Wooden sandals with copper electrodes were attached to her feet and a copper wire run to Edison's electric light plant, where his technicians awaited the go-ahead.
In order to make sure that Topsy emerged from this spectacle more than just singed and angry, she was fed cyanide-laced carrots moments before a 6,600-volt AC charge slammed through her body. Officials needn't have worried. Topsy was killed instantly and Edison, in his mind anyway, had proved his point.
A crowd put at 1,500 witnessed Topsy's execution, which was filmed by Edison and released later that year as Electrocuting an Elephant.
In the end, though, all Edison had to show for his efforts was a string of dead animals, including the unfortunate Topsy, and a current that quickly fell out of favor as AC demonstrated its superiority in less lethal ways to become the standard.
(Source: Various)
Read More http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/01/dayintech_0104#ixzz0wEFCdf8c
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Agenda for August 11 Animal Advisory Commission meeting
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/edims/document.cfm?id=140475
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010
6:00 PM
WALLER CREEK CENTER
625 E. 10TH STREET, RM. 105
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL
The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a threeminute
allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. AAC Public Hearing & Special Meeting held on June 2, 2010
b. AAC Special Meeting held on June 9, 2010
c. AAC Regular Meeting held on July 14, 2010
3. OLD BUSINESS
a. Review and Discussion of the Draft Mission of Animal Services
4. NEW BUSINESS
Approve Revised Bylaws As Directed By City Council In Action Taken On July 29, 2010,
Concerning Officer Terms.
Election of Board Officers (Chair, Co-Chair and Parliamentarian)
Report from Donations Funds Sub-Committee Meeting
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
6. STAFF BRIEFINGS
2011 Proposed Budget
Animal Services Center Briefing
Status report on Implementation Plan to reduce Animal Intake and Increase Live Animal
Outcomes.
Staff Briefing On Any Issues Related To Animals In Travis County
Update, discussion Of Task Forces and Public Awareness Campaign
7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
8. ADJOURNMENT
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to
communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or
alternative formats, please give notice at least 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Gricelda Diaz at Health & Human Services Department,
Animal Services Division at 512: 972-5805, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711
ANIMAL ADVISORY COMMISSION
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010
6:00 PM
WALLER CREEK CENTER
625 E. 10TH STREET, RM. 105
AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
1. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION: GENERAL
The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a threeminute
allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. AAC Public Hearing & Special Meeting held on June 2, 2010
b. AAC Special Meeting held on June 9, 2010
c. AAC Regular Meeting held on July 14, 2010
3. OLD BUSINESS
a. Review and Discussion of the Draft Mission of Animal Services
4. NEW BUSINESS
Approve Revised Bylaws As Directed By City Council In Action Taken On July 29, 2010,
Concerning Officer Terms.
Election of Board Officers (Chair, Co-Chair and Parliamentarian)
Report from Donations Funds Sub-Committee Meeting
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
6. STAFF BRIEFINGS
2011 Proposed Budget
Animal Services Center Briefing
Status report on Implementation Plan to reduce Animal Intake and Increase Live Animal
Outcomes.
Staff Briefing On Any Issues Related To Animals In Travis County
Update, discussion Of Task Forces and Public Awareness Campaign
7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
8. ADJOURNMENT
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to
communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or
alternative formats, please give notice at least 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Gricelda Diaz at Health & Human Services Department,
Animal Services Division at 512: 972-5805, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
33% increase in cats killed per day
In June 2010, there were 20 cats per day put down by lethal injection at the Town Lake Animal Center, a 33% increase over the 15 cats per day put down by lethal injection in June 2009.
http://www.cityofaustin.org/health/pets/downloads/ops_0610.pdf
http://www.cityofaustin.org/health/pets/downloads/ops_0610.pdf
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