ctod;i~ ~--• and • ~ the~~ FOR ANIMALS OFFICERS & DIRECTORS JoAnne Worley, President loretta Swit, 1st. Vice President Paul Jolly, 2nd. Vice President/Treasurer Cory Carter, Secretary Maria Dales March 17, 2014 Jackie Joseph Sherry Miller Susan Taylor Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee Claro Tortomasi Attn: Councilman Paul Koretz, Chair Betty White Councilman Felipe Fuentes, Member Mary Willard Councilman Mitch O'FarreU, Member EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Susan Taylor los Angeles City Council PRESIDENT EMERITUS 200 N. Spring Street Earl Holliman Los Angeles, CA 90012 DIRECTORS EMERITUS Jodie Mann Maurice Tubin Re: CFll...Q473- March 18, 2014 Agenda Item No.6 HONORARY BOARD Support Motion Made on March 23, 2011 in Support of Cardenas/Rosendahl Motion to Add OF GOVERNORS Dog Licensing Funds to Animal Sterilization Fund and in Opposition to Animal Welfare Trust Denise Alexander Fund lucie Arnaz Clint Black lisa Hartman Black Actors and Others for Animals was founded in 1971 and is one of the oldest and Joe Bologna Christie Brinkley most respected animal welfare organizations in Los Angeles. Our main mission is to James Brolin curb the pet overpopulation problem through subsidizing spay and neuter Carol Burnett surgeries. We are strong advocates of dog licensing and differentials that allow dog Dick Carlson, Past President Angie Dickinson "owners" who sterilize their pet to receive a reduced license fee and equally Rosemary Forsyth support the City providing financial aid to pet .. owners" to spay/neuter their pets. Zsa Zsa Gabor Arlene Golonka Eydie Gorme We urge you to support the original March 23, 2011 motion by Councilman Veronica Hamel Harry Hamlin Cardenas to cap the licensing revenue and place any excess revenue collected into Mariette Hartley the Animal Spay and Neuter Trust Fund. While that motion caps the amount at Bernie Kopell Jack Klugman $850,000 we do recommend that the additional provision be added that any Steve Lawrence capped amount be reviewed on a timely basis. Peter Marshall Lee Meriwether Yvette Mimieux As succinctly stated by Councifman Cardenas in his motion: "During this period of Kevin Nealon Paula Poundstone limited resources, the Department's spay and neuter services should be preserved Burt Reynolds as they are an effective tool for increasing the number of sterilized pets and Rose Marie decreasing the intake numbers at Oty animal care centers." We couldn't agree Ally Sheedy Sally Struthers more. In fact, spaying and neutering remains and simplest and most effective way Renee Taylor of reducing pet overpopulation. Renee Valente Mr & Mrs. Robert Vaughn Jessica Walter Cindy Williams Joanne Woodward Founded in 1971 by: Diana and Richard Basehor! 11523 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91601-2309 • 818-755-6045 • Fax: 818-755-6048 www.actorsandothers.com • EIN No: 95-2783139 Personnel and Animal Welfare Committee March 17, 2014 Page 2 The Department of Animal Services continues to be committed to an untenable beliefthat it is the number of animals that they can discharge from the shelters by any means possible that controls the shelters' population. But the ultimate and most important goal must be stopping the animals from entering the shelters, and the foundation for that has always been and continues to be spay/neuter. Ms. Barnette is simply wrong to conclude that now is the time to limit financial aid for spay/neuter. Conversely, it is the most important time because after decades of hard work convincing pet "owners" of the need to sterilize their pets, more and more citizens are realizing the need. The biggest barrier to low and/or fixed income pet "owners" is cost. We must remain vigilant or face increased shelter intakes and adverse animal issues of all types. We strongly urge you to dismiss the request made by General Manager, Brenda Barnette, to divert such excess revenue into the Animal Welfare Trust Fund which can be used for anything else other than sterilization. I believe the Animal Services Commission appointed under Mayor Garcetti would agree. Thank you for your consideration of this letter and your support of the original March 23, 2011 motion by Councilman Cardenas. It is simply the appropriate and legal option. On behalf of the animals, Executive Director .