10/8/06

VVAW met at 11 am on Sunday, 10/8/06, at the Vienna Community Center.

In attendance:

Artemis, Diana

Bennett, Sarah 

*Clancy, Lillian

Cochran, Arlene

Echeverry, Sandy

Eddy, Ethan

Feild, Barbara

Gaines, David

Ganobsik, Kendra

Gilbert, Sue

Grimes, Bev

Hall, Anne

Harold, Catherine

Henderson, Brandy

Henderson, Coletta

Holden, Grace

Hutcherson, Barbara

*Ingram, Cindy

*Kincheloe, Kim

Lesser, Rosalie

*Marro, Donald

McAlwee, Pam

McCall, Michelle

Patey, Marian  

Pierson, Phil

Qualls, Lisa

Sternberg, Holly

Stover, Wayne

vonStuemer, Edith

Warrington, Bernice

*Weakland, Pat

Zavala, Timathie

* before name denotes Members of the Board of Directors for Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare and for Virginians for Animal Welfare

Lisa Qualls arranged for this meeting, and she and Pat Weakland arranged the logistics.  Thanks, Lisa and Pat.

The meeting began by each board member in attendance giving a brief background of themselves and their experience in animal welfare.

1.   Don Marro asked if those at the meeting can work toward passage of legislation.  The group felt they could.  However, bills need patrons, and each person was asked to call their legislators to enlist their support and demonstrate the importance of the VVAW initiatives to represent not only VVAW but all of you.

2.   Don discussed the procedure for passing a bill.  A new procedure now allows a sub-committee to kill a bill; if a sub-committee declines to pass a bill, that bill needn’t come up again.

This results in the necessity of getting as many patrons as possible who are members of the relevant sub-committee.  Historically, animal bills are first addressed by the House Ag Sub-committee which is chaired by Delegate Robert Orrock.  The same legislators are on the same committees as they were in the 2006 session.

3.   Don discussed the concept of animal welfare vs. animal rights, and asked that it be clear in discussions that VVAW is an animal welfare organization.

4.   Marian Patey suggested that a lobbying day be arranged for animal welfare bills.

5.   Lisa Qualls asked the best way to work with VACA.

Kim Kincheloe spoke of a recent meeting between representatives of VVAW and VACA, seeking ways to work together, and asking VACA to support VVAW initiatives.

Catherine Harold noted that she has met recently with the President of VACA, Kevin Kilgore, and reported that Kilgore would like to outlaw tethering which is a VVAW initiative.

6.   Don reiterated the VVAW goal of encouraging change.  VVAW has met with the constituent animal groups and will continue to do so.  Legislators prefer “peace in the valley” which is accomplished by bringing them legislation on which there is consensus.

Don is not satisfied with “baby steps” and so asks that we all push for making change more quickly.

He went on to suggest that contact be made with the ACO community, asking them for their input on VVAW legislation.  He encouraged making one’s presence known; one is invisible otherwise.

Diana Artemis wondered about contacting the police departments and the Board of Supervisors.  She was encouraged to do so - to continue applying pressure.

7.   gas chambers

Don spoke of the certification of gas chambers, and why pressure here too must be continually applied until the chambers are gone.  Jurisdictions are to have the chambers inspected by “a recognized health and safety” authority, but no guidance is provided about who that might be.  In two gassing counties, both using the same health and safety authority, the device used cannot measure what the regulations require.  The result is likely trial and error for gassing animals. 

Pam McAlwee suggested reaching out to shelter workers using gas and ask them for the worst cases they have seen.

Arlene Cochran asked if EBI is cheaper, why jurisdictions are still using gas.

Don and Barbara Hutcherson talked about reluctance to change.  Economic, moral, and financial arguments count for less than tradition.  David Gaines added that these jurisdictions do not like to be told what to do.

Pat Weakland referred all to the letter from Tonya Higgins, DVM, asking that gas be terminated.

Diana Artemis wondered about doing an undercover piece which might result in the problem getting air time.  Don said those with courage and compassion could surely try, but doing so is not the brief of VVAW.

Pam wondered if offering counties funding would help.  Don said money has been offered to each jurisdiction, but no jurisdiction has taken the offer.

Bernice Warrington talked of her experience with vets training workers to do EBI.

8.  Kim Kincheloe asked that pressure gets exerted on behalf of each initiative on a local level.  She is not satisfied with baby steps.  She adds that it is all right to make people angry; there is urgency in these matters.  Stress the urgency needed and act forcefully.

Kim summed matters up:  breed a lot, adopt a few, kill the rest.

Don indicated that VVAW is not against breeding, but does oppose “brand” (that is, a disposability mindset) vs. “breed” (creating a life). 

Pat Weakland asked if there were breeders in the room; none identified themselves as such.

Lisa Qualls noted that some members of the Ag Committee are themselves breeders.

9.   Cindy Ingram asked if the dealer permit initiative would be heard by the finance committee.

Don said the caucus will set the agenda.  He also noted that some jurisdictions have adopted a dealer permit ordinance.  The latest VVAW initiative will require all jurisdictions to adopt one.

10.  A general discussion about the necessity for maintaining pressure took place.  David Gaines said to make sure the pressure is state-wide, demonstrating concern beyond northern Virginia.

Don noted that the opposition has been around longer than VVAW and is better known, so VVAW needs to work harder.

Lisa Qualls asked whether it would be appropriate to indicate one’s tie to VVAW when applying pressure.  There was a resounding “yes” to her question.

11.   releasing agencies bill

A brief discussion of the number of patrons and the stand of patrons from last session took place.

There followed a discussion of companion animals in general vs. dogs and cats.  David Gaines wants other companion animals to be included, specifically pointing to rabbits and ferrets.

It was decided that including such exotics will happen if enough support to do so is marshaled.  Gathering such support will be the responsibility of those who are asking them to be included.

Ethan Eddy wanted to confirm that pet shops will need to comply with the spay/neuter requirements of the bill.  Yes, they will.

12.   humane investigator bill

Edith vonStuemer was unable to renew her humane investigator credential because she was unable to get the required “ID”.  While wanting to step down, she has not because there is no one to replace her in Fairfax County.  She also expressed concern about the need for 15 credits each 3 years, and where such credits will be offered.

13.   humane education bill

The background of the bill was discussed.

If the humane ed program is taught after school hours, Barbara Feild wondered about attendance.  Kendra Ganobsik said attendance would be there if extra credit is given.

Ann Hall recommended deleting the hourly requirement from the bill.  She will try to work with Marian Patey who is a teacher, on this bill.

14.   $3 rabies surcharge bill

Michelle McCall asked how much a rabies shot costs.

15.   tethering bill

Ethan Eddy offered that there is a very strong public health and public safety aspect to this bill.