March 25, 2010 -- San Francisco -- First District Court of Appeal is the first to interpret a 1998 California law that increased the required hold period for animals/pets impounded at public and private shelters from the pre-1998 requirement that they be held for only 72 hours.
California law [31108] states that shelters are required to hold strays a minimum of 4 business days if they are open at least one weekend day or a minimum of 6 business days if only open on weekdays. Contra Costa Animal Services keeps two shelters open Tuesday through Saturday and was counting Saturday as a business day when deciding how long to hold a stray dog for possible owner redemption or adoption. The appeals court disagreed and said only weekdays can be considered business days under law.
The SFGate Article
The Appeals Court Ruling
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
San Diego Humane - Talks Yield Some Favorable Results
Humane Society President Mark Goldstein agrees to release dogs set to be euthanized to 501c non-profit rescue groups as long as groups sign a waiver form.
North County Times
by staff writer Ray Huard
Elaine Godzak, a former volunteer at the Oceanside animal shelter, said that the agency was violating a 1998 state law (the Hayden Act) by refusing to release those dogs scheduled for euthanasia to rescue groups that asked to take them. Godzak hired a lawyer and threatened to take the Humane Society to court over the matter.
But while Goldstein has agreed to release these dogs to rescue groups he said it will be up to the rescue groups to find out on their own which animals are to be killed. Since the merger, he has discontinued the Oceanside shelter practice of actively contacting rescue groups before killing animals.
North County Times
by staff writer Ray Huard
Elaine Godzak, a former volunteer at the Oceanside animal shelter, said that the agency was violating a 1998 state law (the Hayden Act) by refusing to release those dogs scheduled for euthanasia to rescue groups that asked to take them. Godzak hired a lawyer and threatened to take the Humane Society to court over the matter.
But while Goldstein has agreed to release these dogs to rescue groups he said it will be up to the rescue groups to find out on their own which animals are to be killed. Since the merger, he has discontinued the Oceanside shelter practice of actively contacting rescue groups before killing animals.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
San Diego Humane - Confidential Talks with HS
North County Times
Shelter critics are in talks with San Diego Humane Society but details of the talks are confidential. Elaine Godzak, a former volunteer with the Oceanside North County Humane Society, was at the meeting and is cautiously optimistic but is not ruling out the potential of going to court in the future.
One of the issues to be resolved is how the Humane Society will comply with a state law [Food and Agricultural Code Section 31108(b)] that requires it to allow rescue groups to take any animals that are scheduled to be euthanized.
Humane Society President Mark Goldstein announced to volunteers at an Oceanside meeting that the Humane Society would discontinue the North County practice of actively contacting rescue groups to see if they want to take dogs scheduled for euthanasia.
Goldstein also said the Humane Society only keeps animals in public view for 5 days but did not elaborate on what happens to those animals after those 5 days.
Shelter critics are in talks with San Diego Humane Society but details of the talks are confidential. Elaine Godzak, a former volunteer with the Oceanside North County Humane Society, was at the meeting and is cautiously optimistic but is not ruling out the potential of going to court in the future.
One of the issues to be resolved is how the Humane Society will comply with a state law [Food and Agricultural Code Section 31108(b)] that requires it to allow rescue groups to take any animals that are scheduled to be euthanized.
Humane Society President Mark Goldstein announced to volunteers at an Oceanside meeting that the Humane Society would discontinue the North County practice of actively contacting rescue groups to see if they want to take dogs scheduled for euthanasia.
Goldstein also said the Humane Society only keeps animals in public view for 5 days but did not elaborate on what happens to those animals after those 5 days.
Friday, March 05, 2010
San Diego Humane - Merger Raises Questions
The Coast News - Oceanside North County Humane and San Diego Humane merger raises questions and concerns.
The Coast News reports that 45 dogs evaluated and approved for adoption prior to the merger were transferred to the San Diego facility for re-evaluation and 5 of them were euthanized.
Laura Maloney (Senior Vice President of strategic initiatives and communication for the San Diego Humane Society) stated that out of 45 animals from the Oceanside site that were re-evaluated by San Diego Humane, five were euthanized because of concerns for the community. Behavior assessment proved the dogs to be a potential danger to people or a significant danger to animals.
The Coast News also reported that San Diego Humane and North County Humane use the same medical and behavior assessments for animals but comments from a reader stated that the two facilities did not use the same behavior or medical evaluations.
The SAFER test was used at North County Humane
http://www.humanesocietyofknoxcounty.org/SAFER.html
Behavior assessment at San Diego Humane (Gaines Campus) is one of their own design.
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adp_BehaviorAssessments
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The Coast News reports that 45 dogs evaluated and approved for adoption prior to the merger were transferred to the San Diego facility for re-evaluation and 5 of them were euthanized.
Laura Maloney (Senior Vice President of strategic initiatives and communication for the San Diego Humane Society) stated that out of 45 animals from the Oceanside site that were re-evaluated by San Diego Humane, five were euthanized because of concerns for the community. Behavior assessment proved the dogs to be a potential danger to people or a significant danger to animals.
The Coast News also reported that San Diego Humane and North County Humane use the same medical and behavior assessments for animals but comments from a reader stated that the two facilities did not use the same behavior or medical evaluations.
The SAFER test was used at North County Humane
http://www.humanesocietyofknoxcounty.org/SAFER.html
Behavior assessment at San Diego Humane (Gaines Campus) is one of their own design.
http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adp_BehaviorAssessments
Note: Maloney did not elaborate on what the potential danger would be to people or what species of animal (cats?) these dogs might be a significant danger to.
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Monday, March 01, 2010
San Bernardino Valley HS - Redlands HS President Opinion
Press-Enterprise February 26, 2010
Jan Orbaker, President of the Redlands Humane Society, expresses her opinion that this practice of secret euthanasia of pets is disgraceful.
Jan Orbaker, President of the Redlands Humane Society, expresses her opinion that this practice of secret euthanasia of pets is disgraceful.
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