ALERT: Lakewood Ban Scheduled to be Voted on / Upcoming Campai

[MeSheLL]

Fw: ALERT: Lakewood Ban Scheduled to be Voted on / Upcoming Campai
Posted by: "Jodi Preis" [e-mail] jodi_preis
Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:07 pm (PDT)


Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys
Education... Awareness. ..Advocacy
Because preaching to the choir makes a small church.

--- On Wed, 7/16/08, CAO wrote:

The City of Lakewood

City Council Related:

We have been informed that the Lakewood City Council will vote on the proposed ban on Monday, July 21, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.. PLEASE ATTEND THIS MEETING. This is the last council meeting until September so council either knows the ban will pass or they are planning on tabling it. We have been advised by a council member to have one person speak at the meeting on Monday. The speaker should not be emotional and should mention only fact. I believe a Lakewood resident should be the individual to speak. We can work on a speech. I’m not exactly sure how to “choose” only one person since everyone should be permitted to speak, especially Lakewood residents.

Last week, we were told by various council members that council would not be ready to vote by July 21st. Unfortunately, council has now placed the ban on the agenda. The timing of Fox 8’s investigation could not have been worse. It’s obvious the report has prompted council to want this issue over and done with so that they are no longer in the news.

Just to be clear, CAO was not involved in the Fox 8 Investigative reporting. CAO has been committed to providing council members with any and all information they need to make an informed decision. We have been meeting with council members and offering to speak with others. We generally avoid the media (or speak with only those trusted reporters) since most reports are never 100% positive. The Fox 8 Investigative Report did not sufficiently emphasize the violation of first amendment rights issue and did not present “pit bull” owners in the best light either. Although the report hurt our efforts, we now must do what we can before Monday’s meeting.

LAKEWOOD AND NON-LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS, on Thursday and Friday, please send polite and respectful emails expressing your opposition to the ban and any form of BSL. If you are a resident of Lakewood and will move if the ban is passed, please express this in your correspondence. If you are a Lakewood resident or a non-resident and will stop shopping or frequenting businesses in Lakewood , please express this to council members. You can also request that council take more time to learn about the issue, although it’s probably a done deal at this point.

LAKEWOOD RESIDENTS, on Monday, please call each of the council members and the mayor expressing your opposition to the ban and any form of breed-specific legislation. If you plan on moving or plan to stop supporting Lakewood businesses if the ban passes, please express this during your phone message or conversation.

Mayor Edward Fitzgerald
Phone: [phone]
mayor@lakewoodoh. net

Mr. Thomas Bullock
[phone]
tom.bullock@ lakewoodoh. net
Mr. Brian E. Powers
[phone]
bpowers@lazorpoint. com
Mr. Michael Summers
[phone]
mike.summers@ lakewoodoh. net



Ms. Mary Louise Madigan
[phone]
mary.madigan@ lakewoodoh. net

Mr. Kevin Butler
[phone]
butler@councilmanbu tler.com

Ms. Nickie J. Antonio
[phone]
nickieantonio@ aol.com
Mr. Michael Dever
Home [phone]
michael_dever@ sbcglobal. net



Bullock’s Proposal:

At the last public safety committee meeting, Councilman Bullock handed out a new proposal. Canine Advocates of Ohio does not support Bullock’s proposal. There are still very restrictive breed-specific components of the proposal and it is safe to say, owners of various breeds will continue to be targeted. Please understand that under the current Lakewood ordinance, animal control has the authority to order any pit bull out of the City. So far, animal control has opted not to use this authority often. Unfortunately, Bullock’s proposal requires any “pit bull” that bites to leave the city. How will a “bite” be defined? Will it be a scratch, a bruise, a puncture, blood? Who will animal control listen to if there are multiple versions of the event? In addition, although the term “unprovoked” is included in the proposal, it is very likely the dog will be ordered out of the city.

As most “pit bull” owners know, when it’s “you” against “them,” the “pit bull” owner generally loses.

You can find a copy of Bullock’s proposal under the “Is your City Considering BSL?” page on our site.

Another Incident:

I have not seen this in the news (thank goodness) but there was an incident last week where a dog was running loose and bit a child. I believe it was a bite. Animal control was called and, of course, cited the owner for not properly restraining the dog. The owner rescued the dog from a local rescue and was told the dog was a boxer mix. The vet also identified the dog as a boxer mix. Animal control indicated that the dog was not a boxer; the dog was a “pit bull.” We have not had contact with the owner but this would be a great time to bring a lawsuit for misidentification. No court would take the word of an untrained animal control officer over a veterinarian.

But this should also be a wake-up call for all owners of dogs in Lakewood . You may think you have a mutt or a certain breed of dog but if Lakewood animal control says the dog is a “pit bull,” then the dog is a “pit bull.”

Next Step:

Under Lakewood ’s Charter, no ordinance can be passed until it has been read by title only on 3 separate days. So far, the proposal has been read two (2) times. Monday will be considered the third reading.

In the event the ban or some other restrictive breed-specific ordinance passes, residents have the power to have the ordinance repealed and/or placed on a ballot. The petition will need to include the number assigned to the ordinance and its full title. In addition, 5 qualified “electors” must include their names and addresses. These five will be considered the petitioners. Any resident to sign the petition must include their name, signature and street address (with house number). The petition must include qualified “electors’” signatures of least 15% of the total votes cast for the Mayor in the last election.

Here are the elections results:

Lakewood Mayor
Edward FitzGerald.. . 6,345
Thomas George (r, i)... 3,961

There is also a chance to remove people from council with a petition.

We can discuss this after the meeting on Monday.

Mayor Neighborhood Meetings:

In addition, on Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 7:00, the Lakewood Mayor will be holding another neighborhood meeting. It is important that there is a large turnout of residents at everyone of these meetings. Residents must express their concerns and opposition to the proposed ban and any form of breed-specific legislation. The only way we will see change is by showing our local officials that the voters are against the proposals. There were only 2 people opposed to the ban at the last meeting. This is very unfortunate, especially since this is the time to speak with the Mayor. Please plan on attending each of the upcoming neighborhood meetings. Even if the ban passes, we cannot give up. We must continue to keep this issue alive.

For more information regarding the neighborhood meetings, please visit: http://www.caninead vocatesofohio. org/BSL/Pending_ Local_Ordinances /CITIES_CONSIDER ING_BSL.htm & http://www.caninead vocatesofohio. org/BSL/Pending_ Local_Ordinances /Lakewood_ Mayor_Meetings. htm


Important Petition

Last night, a new Verizon commercial aired. It depicts “pit bulls” as vicious junkyard dogs. The dogs are chained, of course. This horrible commercial promotes the unfortunate perception of ‘pit bulls” as vicious dogs. Please click on the link and sign the petition. Please take the time to include a statement.

http://www.thepetit ionsite.com/ 1/make-verizon- accountable

Please also contact the marketing department at the number listed below and contact each of the executives found on the link below.

Marketing Department: 1-800-256-4646

E-mail Addresses: http://aboutus. vzw.com/leadersh ip/executive/ index.html

Campaign Events

Lundy Town Hall Meeting:

The last of Lundy’s town hall meetings is schedule for Thursday, July 24, 2008. At the first meeting, we had 25 people in attendance. At the second meeting, we had 50 people in attendance. Next week, we must have AT LEAST 75 people in attendance. We would like to see more of Lundy’s constituents but everyone is welcome and NEEDED. Please contact us if you are able to attend.

Because of the attendance at the meetings, Lundy has contacted us to discuss breed-specific legislation. This is a huge leap from the first meeting where he brushed off our concerns. We will be meeting with Lundy on Thursday to discuss alternatives to BSL and to provide him with a copy of our power-point presentation and alternative laws that work.

Although Lundy is only one rep., this is a great accomplishment for CAO and shows what we can influence our reps/candidates with persistence and commitment!

Here are the details for next weeks meeting. Please attend.

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Rep. Lundy Town Hall Mtg.

Sheffield Village Muni Complex
4340 Colorado Avenue
Sheffield Village , 44054

Garland Canvassing Event

Get out and meet your candidates. Discuss your concerns and opposition to breed-specific legislation and the current state law. EVERYONE, this is the only way we’re going to change Ohio ’s law. PLEASE GET OUT THERE!!!!

The Ohio Democratic Women’s Caucus will host canvasses across Franklin and surrounding counties for women candidates running for Congress, State Senate and State House. The meet-ups and canvasses will take place on Sunday, July 20th at 1:00 p.m. and Nancy Garland will be hosting one of these meet-ups. Location for the meet-ups:


Nancy Garland Campaign Headquarters
2738 East Main Street
Bexley, Ohio 43209

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.


Shana Klein
************ ********* ********
President
CANINE ADVOCATES OF OHIO
P.O. Box 19081
Cleveland, Ohio 44119
www.canineadvocates ofohio.org

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by
people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.
~Dale Carnegie