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City and County of San Francisco
Commission of Animal Control & Welfare Archived Meetings

Meeting Information


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COMMISSION OF ANIMAL CONTROL AND WELFARE

Mailing Address: 1390 Market Street, Room 822
San Francisco, CA 94102
Voice Mail: (415) 252-3817

Minutes of Meeting - January 9th, 2003

1. Call to order and roll call

The meeting was convened at 5.40p.m. by Chair Eckman, who presided during all aspects of the meeting. Five Commissioners (or their lawful designates) holding valid appointments being present, the quorum requirement of Section 6 of the Commission's Rules & Regulations (50 percent of those eligible to vote) was satisfied.

Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Elissa Eckman, Vice-Chair Sherri Franklin, Secretary June Wilson, Laurie Kennedy, Kelly Jensen DVM, Jack Breslin, Dept of Health, Carl Friedman, Animal Care & Control, Sgt. Bill Herndon, SFPD.

Absent with excuse: Rosa Sanchez, City Attorney, Jamal Modica.

Absent: Cheryl Bentley.

Also, the continued absent of Recreation and Park

2. Public Comment

Eric Mills, Action for Animals, stated that the rodeo lawsuit will be heard January 27th at 9.30a.m. at 350 McAllister, Dept 301. This lawsuit is about taking 6700 children to the rodeo at the Cow Palace in October on school time and at taxpayers expense.

3. Approval of the draft minutes of December 12, 2002

The Chair opened the meeting to public comment.

The minutes were unanimously approved by the Commission.

4. Chairperson's report and opening remarks

a. The Chair wished everyone a happy New Year and thanked everyone for coming to the meeting.

5 Commissioner Public Comment

Com. Wilson reported that she was at a meeting where the VA hospital is proposing to add a new $24 million, 200,000 sq. ft. research facility. There was strong opposition from the neighbors due to zoning and traffic issues. Four animal people also voiced their opposition. It was the first meeting and details were very vague.

9. New Business (out of order)

A. Pigeon Trapping.

Comm. Breslin stated that he wanted to try and solve the pigeon problem as the pigeons are creating public health and nuisance problems. He read a part of the health code. He showed a list of complaints since October, 1998 with approx. 750 complaints. The cost of investigating these complaints was approx. $240,000. At a hearing they recently heard on a property at 29th Avenue, the investigators had made 12 visits to the site. Another site at 46th Avenue, an elderly Russian man was feeding the pigeons about 4 blocks from his home. Through his niece, they were able to stop the man before any action was taken. Mr. Hazelton approached us and said that he would trap them humanely and relocate them. Comm. Breslin would like Mr. Hazelton to at first trap on a trial basis. Comm Friedman stated that pigeon trapping and relocation doesn't work as pigeons have the homing instinct. ACC have had a number of complaints about Mr. Hazelton. Recently, Mr. Hazelton was trapping across from SPCA. The trap was in the sun, full of pigeons and Mr. Hazelton was no where to be seen. He said that he had permission from the Health Dept. which was untrue. Lt. Michael Scott from ACC explained the two traps that he had with him. One, the bird walks in for the food and the door shuts behind him and the bird cannot get out. The second cage, he thought was a holding cage and the gauge of the holes was disturbing as some birds had their heads out, some had their wings out. ACC released the birds. No one knows if anyone had hired Mr. Hazelton in this industrial area. Comm. Friedman stated that in some cities, they have built pigeon condominiums with water, where everyone who wants, can feed the birds. Avatrol, a birth control in their food doesn't work. Comm Breslin stated is that the main problem with the birds, is with the people who feed them. There was a unanimous vote, Comm. Franklin, Eckman, Wilson, Jensen, Kennedy, rejected Mr. Hazelton proposal.

B. "Give a Dog a Bone" program

Comm. Franklin introduced Corinne Dowling of "Give a Dog a Bone" program, asking for the formal endorsement of the Commission. Corinne Dowling stated that she is the founder, director and dog handler of this program founded in December,1999. Due to safety and medical the regular volunteers were not allowed to socialize with Custody dogs. She volunteered and worked with custody dogs for 2 years. She, now, has 7 active volunteers. Custody dogs include medical, quarantine and isolation cases, victims of dog fighting, abuse, fire, evictions, etc. are all part of this program. The dogs that are allowed out of their cages, they give these dogs, dog training, love and care maybe for the first time in their lives, take them for walks in the park etc. The dogs that cannot be allowed out of their cages, for example, biters and fighters, that will end up at a vicious dog hearing or in the courts, the volunteers talk to them with love, give them treats, play ball etc. to stimulate their minds as many of these dogs are at ACC for a very long time. Also in the program have been sheep, goats and a duck. Last year, they handled 357 dogs, the prior year, they handled 364 dogs. They also work on getting dogs adopted and last year was 20%. They are a non-profit organization that rely on donations. The program has been a recipient of several awards and passing the information on to other shelters, these shelters hope to follow in their footsteps. Comm. Friedman thanked Corinne for all her good work. Before she came it was 100% euthanasia. Many dogs are held as evidence and as the courts are usually very slow, some dogs are at ACC for over a year. A unanimous vote by all Commissioners was past to give our support and endorsement to "Give a Dog a Bone" program.

D. Comm. Bentley's move to Florida

No one on the Commission was informed that Comm. Bentley had moved so Comm. Wilson asked a friend who worked with Comm. Bentley at her school to find out. The Director of the school stated that Comm. Bentley's building had been sold and she was not allowed pets. She took it to court, received some money and moved to Florida.

C. Election of Officers for 2003

Laurie Kennedy was elected Chair (Wilson, Jensen, Eckman, Kennedy, Franklin voting)

Sherri Franklin was elected vice-Chair (Wilson, Jensen, Eckman, Kennedy, Franklin voting)

June Wilson (temporary secretary)

6. Status and tracking of letters of recommendations approved by

Commission requesting action by Board of Supervisors

a. All counted for. .

7. Committee Reports/Commissioner's Reports

a. Com. Franklin stated that the Board of Supervisors will be voting on "Guardians" on January 13th 2003. Chair Kennedy stated that SF/SPCA will also support it.

b. No update on Park and Recreations dog policy

c. Com. Franklin stated that she meet with the graphics dept. 3 times. She stated that the flyer/pamphlet/logo will cost approx. $1000 for 1000 copies. The logo will be in color.

b. No reports from City Attorney

c. Comm. Eckman stated that now that the holidays were over, she will get in touch with In Defence of Animals about the "Cambridge" type ordinance.

d. Comm. Jensen stated that she had lost touch with Supe Maxwell during the holidays but she will start making phones to her office about the continued inability of live animal markets to comply with Federal, local and State law. Comm. Eckman stated that Supe Maxwell was also interested in meeting with different commissions.

8. Old Business

No old business

10.Public Comment

No public comment

11.Calendar Items

Comm. Wilson asked that the election of officers be held in June instead of January. Comm. Herndon suggested to enforce restrictions on the pigeon feeders.

12.Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7.28p.m. motion by Com. Franklin, seconded by Com. Wilson.

Dated: 12th January, 2003

Wilson, Secretary __________________