A Historic Vote For Animal Companions Is Imminent

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San Francisco residents please read and take action.

 

Fellow Animal Guardian:

 

A Historic Vote For Animal Companions Is Imminent

 

On January 13th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will

hold its final vote on a measure sponsored by Supervisor Matt

Gonzalez to add the term " guardian " where the term " owner "

appears in local codes referring to animal companions.

Unfortunately, though the bill has received great praise in the

community, it has also suffered sneak attacks from out of state

opposition such as cat breeders and cock fighting enthusiasts.

After years of hard work by community members and the city

Animal Control and Welfare Commission to ensure its passage,

the bill is threatened with being undermined by these attacks.

 

It is now more crucial than ever for you to lend your support to

this resolution.

 

Only recently elected, the two newest members of the Board,

Supervisors Bevan Dufty and Fiona Ma, are seeking input from

the community and have not yet taken a position on the bill. Their

yes votes are critically needed to assure its success.

 

What You Can Do:

 

Write, call, fax or email these supervisors (see contact

information below). Tell them that you are in total support of Matt

Gonzalez's bill and that you want the honor and respect of your

city allowing you to call yourself guardian of your animal

companions. Let them know that you are a San Francisco

resident and include your address in any contact that you make.

 

Three other supervisors, Tom Ammiano, Aaron Peskin, and

Gavin Newsom, have not yet come out in support of this

resolution. If your district is represented by one of these

supervisors, contact him as well to express your support, and

ask him to vote " Yes " on the bill next Monday.

 

Contact Information:

 

Bevan Dufty (District 8)

Ph: 415-554-6968

Fax: 415-554-6909

bevan.dufty

 

Fiona Ma (District 4)

Ph: 415-554-7460

Fax: 415-554-7432

fiona.ma

 

Board President Tom Ammiano (District 9)

Ph: 415-554-5144

Fax: 415-554-6255

tom.ammiano

 

Aaron Peskin (District 3)

Ph: 415-554-7450

Fax: 415-554-7454

aaron.peskin

 

Gavin Newsom (District 2)

Ph: 415-554-5942

Fax: 415-554-5946

gavin.newsom

 

Each supervisor can receive hand written mail at 1 Dr. Carleton

B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco, CA  94102

 

For further information contact:

 

Eric Brooks

Program Liaison

Guardian Campaign

In Defense of Animals

415-388-9641

brookse

 

Thanks for helping make life better for our animal friends!

--

I no longer use language that accepts the current concept of

animals as property, commodities and/or things. Rather than

referring to myself or others as " owners " of animals we share

our lives with, I now refer to myself and others as " guardians " of

our animal friends and to animals as " he " or " she " rather than

" it. " Guardians do not buy or sell animals; instead they rescue

and adopt. I urge you to do the same.

 

To learn more about the Guardian Campaign visit

http://idausa.org/campaigns/property/property.html