Senator Paul Farrow (R)  (District 33) sent the following response to a constituent that used the Best Friends Animal Society action alert to ask for action on Senate Bill 191, a bill that helps victims of cruelty (dogs seized from cruelty situations) find new homes when they pose no threat to humans or other animals.  Under current law, almost all dogs must be euthanized, regardless of their disposition.



(Name Withheld)

Thank you very much for the email.  

Although I missed the co-sponsorship deadline, I will consider supporting SB 191 should it make it to the Senate floor for a vote.  

As a long time dog owner, this legislation has merit.  

-Paul

Even in non-election years, we, as voters, have the right to let our elected officials know how we feel about an issue and try to influence their votes regarding it.  And as pet lovers, now is the time for us to exercise that right.

On March 8th, Wisconsin state senator, Tim Carpenter, put bill, LRB 1643/1, before his colleagues and asked them to co-sponsor the legislation.  LRB 1643/1 was drafted to make significant and meaningful changes to Wisconsin’s laws regarding animals seized by a city, county, town, or village.

The deadline for state legislators to express their support for this potentially “game-changing” bill is 12pm on Friday, March 22, 2013, which is a mere two weeks away from the date this post was published.  So, as voters and animal lovers, we must make the most of this limited window by contacting our respective state representatives and senators to ask them to support LRB 1643/1…and by asking everyone we know to do the same.

If you are unsure about who your district’s current state senator or representative is, you can easily research your legislator’s name by clicking here.  When you contact your state legislator, make sure you tell the individual you want him or her to support LRB 1643/1 and remember to share your name.

Among the significant changes LRS 1643/1 is drafted to achieve are shortening the length of time animals seized under Chapter 173 or Chapter 951 are held in captivity by a city, county, town, or village and enabling courts to require owners to reimburse the entity that seized their pets to pay for costs incurred by the authoritative body to house and care for their pets after they were seized.

To learn more about why you and each of our state’s legislators should sponsor LRB 1643/1 as well as the exact changes the bill purports to make to Wisconsin’s laws, click here.

A very happy Columbus day to you! Outside, the season is visibly changing, and I get the sense that the community is changing along with it. Once acceptable practices and procedures are beginning to be thought of as antiquated, much like when horseless carriages began replacing the horse. People of great communities are finding new ways of doing things – together – with “Animal Control” organizations such as MADACC.

In today’s world, good, passionate volunteers in their community bring unbounded – and free- energy for the good of unfortunate animals that find themselves in control facilities. They bring not only their energy, but innovation and creativity from the outside. They work together with equally dedicated and passionate paid staff in a collaboration that benefits everybody. With greater volunteer participation, MADACC would benefit greatly from new ways of thinking that will save taxpayer dollars, and at the same time, make their communities safer and more humane.

The greater level of volunteerism, the more “care” gets put into “control” organizations: Animals, staff, and volunteers all benefit from volunteer socialization with the animals, and more transfers and adoptions take place. Maximizing socialization time will help the dogs, resulting in better evaluations – and lives saved.

People of great communities want more “Care” and less “Control”. They want the animals healthy and prevented from becoming sick. Animals become sick because they are stressed out and their immune systems are weak. Use volunteers to help reduce their stress, and this will go a long way.

Below are some new ideas that volunteers can help MADACC animals:

· Volunteers should be able to make use of the outside kennels – offering fresh air to the dogs, keeping them healthier and better adjusted. 

· Volunteers should be able to work weekend adoption hours in the outside kennels to help move animals to homes – utilizing the space effectively, as well as providing free help.
· Volunteers should be encouraged – not punished – for wanting to help. Therefore they should not be required to wash bowls for 8 hours before walking a dog, or go through any other initiation phase. They want nothing more than to walk a dog -- give them a leash, and let them.

· Volunteers should run an animal help desk to reduce surrenders. This has been very easily implemented in other AC facilities-and proven as highly effective.

· Lastly – volunteers should be able to help socialize and train the court case dogs for life outside of the facility. For at some point, a court case will occur, and these dogs need volunteers to know them, to stand for them, to give them a voice. Volunteers will to attend the court trials and ensure justice is done. Volunteers can, and will make a world of difference to these victims of cruelty.

Together – volunteers and staff can, and should, embrace new and better ways of thinking how we handle innocent lives.

Respectfully,

David Mangold

Founder, Justice Alliance Milwaukee

CC: Board of Directors/ Justice Alliance Milwaukee

CC: David Flagler
Justice Alliance Milwaukee's initiatives are to gain freedom for unforfeited seized dogs awaiting court trials in Milwaukee (MADACC), ensuring they are individually evaluated and rehabilitated if possible; to ensure the disposition of subsequent seized dogs in Milwaukee match the American Bar Association’s guidelines for seized dogs; and to update State Statutes to secure the forfeiture, release, fair evaluation, and rehabilitation of seized dogs in as little time as possible. 

Furthermore, we seek to facilitate the seized dog process for all divisions in Milwaukee, including Milwaukee Police Department, Corporation Counsel, the DA’s office, and MADACC. We aim to ensure all communications and process steps are clear so as to facilitate the timely release, evaluation, training, and rescue of a seized animal. Our court advocacy will support the DA’s office on their prosecution on cruelty and fighting cases.

Justice Alliance Milwaukee ensures a compassionate approach is taken when it comes to these victims of cruelty. Our belief is that all dogs are individuals and that seized dogs deserve a chance at life after being saved from their abuser.