[NENA] Brief Minutes of D4 Coalition Meeting of 17 May

[Rodney Adams]

In Re: The HEART ordinance -
   
  I certainly believe the city council has been bombarded with e-mails in opposition to the proposed animal welfare (HEART) ordinance.  However, I am also certain this is a result of a well coordinated campaign by an hand full of individuals who wish for little or no change to the status quo - literally thousands of unwanted animals killed by the City of Albuquerque annually.  Councilman Don Harris is the champion of these few individuals, many of whom live outside the city limits.  His maneuverings during the public comment period at the council meeting when the HEART ordinance was discussed was obvious - his continued questioning of those opposed to the ordinance, often repeating the same questions over and over to numerous speakers was clearly intended to consume what little time was available to all speakers, serving to silence the majority who had intended to speak in support of the law.  
   
  There is a small minority of people within the city who make a handsome living at the expense of defense animals.  "Hobby" breeders can easily "earn" up to $2000 on a single litter of puppies, yet they oppose paying $150 annually for an intact animal license, and $150 for a litter permit.  They oppose minimal standards for the care of their breeding animals, oppose minimal requirements for providing a humane environment for animals often forced to have litter after litter of cute, and expensive puppies.  These breeders care only for the money generated by these animals, many of which when no longer able to breed are often discarded at the city's animal control facilities where in excess of 1000 animals are euthanized EACH MONTH, a number comparable to Orange County California, with population of over 3 million people.  
   
  Those of us who care about the animal issues in our city already have spayed or neutered our animals, those of us who care already provide a safe, clean and enjoyable environment for our animals and remain unaffected by the proposed ordinance.  Councilman Winter questioned the need to legislate providing an "enriched" environment - essentially providing some minimal form of entertainment - on the grounds that it was an attempt to legislate common sense.  Yet, as councilor Sally Mayer, the sponsor of the HEART ordinance pointed out, we find it necessary to legislate seat belt use, and pass laws against drunken driving and spousal abuse.  Are these too not common sense issues?  And in that regard, the link between abuse of animals and abuse of humans has clearly and repeatedly been established.  An affective tool such as the proposed HEART ordinance, which can help to identify and end abusive behavior towards animals can help to reduce the staggering amount of domestic
 violence in our city.  
   
  The final council action on the HEART ordinance should be undertaken this evening, Monday May 22nd at the city council meeting.  I would urge everyone to contact Councilor Winter and advise him to join Mayor Chavez, councilors Loy, Heinrich, O'Malley, Benton, and Mayer in support the HEART ordinance, not only for the sake of the animals, but the city and all its citizens.  An ounce of prevention is certainly a worthwhile effort to help reduce the unbelievably high rate of euthanasia at our animal control facilities.      


Rodney Adams 
7720 Oakland Ave. NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87122
505-268-5989 
demorodney at yahoo.com 




		
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