Monday, July 13, 2009

Board of Animal Services Commissioners moves to amend L.A. Code to free Stu!

The Board convened at about 10:30 (a half-hour late) and immediately began discussion of Item 3A regarding Stu. Although newly installed Interim General Manager, Kathy Davis was present for her first meeting ever, but she did not even get an introduction. I can't say I've ever even seen her before but she sat next to the City Attorney in the GM's spot...and was entirely silent.

The Board took Public Comment from a large group of concerned citizens, some who traveled from as far as southern Orange County to support Stu. The Board requested that no action to "euthanize" Stu be taken at this time. At 11:05 the Board withdrew to closed session to consult with Assistant City Attorney Laurie Rittenberg, the supervising attorney on Stu's court cases.

Although the Board estimated that they would return to open session at 11:45 , they did not return until past 12:30 p.m at which time, Commissioner Riordan introduced a motion that the Board make a recommendations to Council to amend the Los Angeles Municipal Code section covering "dangerous" dogs which would allow the Board to modify a "dangerous" designation made by a general manager, even long after the appeal process has been finalized. Commissioner Riordan stressed that the amendment be retroactive to cover Stu's case. Commissioner Ponce seconded the motion and it was passed 4-0 (Commissioner Secunda had left the meeting by this time and did not take part in the vote).

What this means is that , at a subsequent public meeting (presumably on July 27, 2009), the Board will actually make a recommendation to City Counicl to amend the code in order to give the Board the power to reverse a GM's decision AFTER the appeal had been finalized. I take this to mean that the Board, once empowered by the code change, intends to remove the "dangerous" designation from Stu which would allow the Board to send him home under reasonable terms and conditions for his care and control.

I do not know how long this will take, but apparently the Board intends to ask the Coucil for an expedited consideration of their request for the code change.

I'm a little frazzled by the whole thing beause it doesn't seem real. I'm encouraged, but I will believe it when I see it. This could take months or weeks or the Council could refuse to the amend the code.

NOTE: The Board will hold their annual elections for President and Vice President on July 27. Last time the "election" was more of a mayoral "appointment" of Tariq Khero as interim President following the resignation last fall of Glenn Brown. Who's up?

9 comments:

  1. When do you get to have Stu back home?

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  2. Hope Stu is sent home real soon. Will keep those calls, e-mails, & tweets coming until the sweet guy is set free! Have to keep the pressure on:)

    Stu's Twitter Friend,
    Lisa A Freeman

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  3. Antonina LicastriMonday, July 13, 2009

    I live in NYC, and have followed closely this case, I was at work today, but all day long my thought, prayers and love were with Stu and his loving owner Jeff, I am delighted to hear that finally some justice will occur, and Stu can finally go home!

    Sincerely,

    Antonina Licastri

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  4. That was close! hope our emails, calls and faxes helped, thanx to Kinship Circle's alert. Thanx for all you do in your endeavour for the animals there.

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  5. Finally, something makes sense.

    I appreciate the efforts of the Commissioners in their prompt and logical move to amend the rules so Stu could go back home. You guys are awesome, and for every crazy thing the state of CA has been doing lately, this makes me believe that there is still hope for LA and CA. The animal people on Twitter will be hearing about this!

    Thanks very much, guys. And a bark from Stu, too! Again, thanks from a ferret-keeper(legal one, that is - if you could do something about legalizing ferrets, it would be a perfect world for us animal people, but I am still very happy) who has been trying to help animals for the last 15 years.

    Sincerely,
    Roary Williams
    Albuquerque, NM

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  6. Please stay with the commitment to FREE STU back to his normal life!
    We are counting on this response!
    Thank you!

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  7. Send Stu home,please!!!!

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  8. If Stu does go home he will be watched very closely believe me, they won't let him go home with out probation of some sort. I feel that this dog needs to be in doggy day care where there are professionals that know about dogs and their injuries. Looks like Jeff is going to have to try harder if Stu is released to make sure the dog is safe and not provoked. Some people might be too rough with dogs, I have seen it happen. Stu can not talk for himself who knows what really happened. Hugs for this poor dog.

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  9. Stu/a sacred spirit,aprotector and a gift to all mankind,please follow his spirit and heart and open your soul up to living a more gentle and compassionate life with the animal kingdom, for they are the sacred keepers of all ancient wisdom and knowledge, hear to teach us, we must learn to Listen,yakoke

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Please make up a name other than "Anonymous" so we can keep track of who says what.No, we don't need your real name. How to do this? Below, select "Name/Url" and type in a name. That's it. You will still be "anonymous" but we'll know which "anonymous" you are. Thanks.

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