{"id":6801,"date":"2015-04-14T04:12:38","date_gmt":"2015-04-14T04:12:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=6801"},"modified":"2015-04-24T23:58:06","modified_gmt":"2015-04-24T23:58:06","slug":"2015-oak-cliff-animal-initiative-meeting-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=6801","title":{"rendered":"2015 Oak Cliff Animal Initiative Meeting Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TowHallPoster_2015_email.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-6572 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TowHallPoster_2015_email-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"TowHallPoster_2015_email\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TowHallPoster_2015_email-200x300.jpg 200w, http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TowHallPoster_2015_email-683x1024.jpg 683w, http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TowHallPoster_2015_email.jpg 1728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>This year&#8217;s Oak Cliff Animal Initiative was a big success. Over 60 neighbors and animal advocates\u00a0took the time on a\u00a0beautiful spring morning to listen and productively discuss the animal issues facing our neighborhoods and city.<\/p>\n<p>We continued our conversation based on last year&#8217;s positive framework as we openly discussed the challenges of the City&#8217;s current policy, resources, and laws.<\/p>\n<p>Below is a summary of the meeting. Be prepared &#8211; it&#8217;s long, but it&#8217;s important. Read it a little here and there\u00a0or plan on a few minutes to read it in its entirety&#8230;it was a 2 1\/2 hour long productive meeting, so be prepared for lots of words. Even a new word you might not have known.<\/p>\n<p>A big thank you to all our neighbors, volunteers, guest speakers, and to Scott Griggs&#8217; office for arranging the room and providing our fabulous morning snack and Joe.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Our\u00a0Goals:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>As an army of many, together we can change our City\u2019s animal culture by\u00a0facilitating positive open conversation and collaboration\u00a0in pursuit of solving our City\u2019s animal issues. We can enact change when we:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Connect, Inform and Empower<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Connect residents, advocates, businesses, rescuers, and\u00a0passionate animal advocates with each other<\/li>\n<li>Exchange information through open conversations with each other and with the City about animal laws, resources, and known issues with the current system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Facilitate and Communicate<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Together, we can identify issues and communicate clear expectations with City leaders and Dallas Animal Services.<\/li>\n<li>As an army of many, we can spread educational information and help both create and demand a spay and neuter culture for our city.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Our neighborhoods are filled with individuals that rescue, volunteer, and advocate to save and help animals every day.\u00a0As our culturally diverse neighborhoods come together, we quickly\u00a0see\u00a0that dogs don\u2019t know neighborhood boundaries and our cross neighborhood collaboration is key to success. We share common animal issues and we share common resource needs.\u00a0It is to our advantage to present a unified voice to help prioritize animal issues for the city.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>The 2nd annual Oak Cliff Animal Initiative (OCAI2) guests <\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">included a<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0<\/span>diverse group of stakeholders including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Oak Cliff residents<\/li>\n<li>Crime Watch groups<\/li>\n<li>Individual rescuers<\/li>\n<li>Businesses<\/li>\n<li>City Council<\/li>\n<li>The Mayor&#8217;s liaison on animal issues, Mary Spencer,<\/li>\n<li>The press<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">&amp;nsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Special Guests: <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We had many special guests in\u00a0the audience, many of whom came to listen in an official\u00a0capacity and as an OC neighbor.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Mary Spencer, <\/strong><\/span>Dallas Animal Commission Chair, Dallas Companion Animal Project Board Member, Advisory Board Member for the Texas Humane Legislation Network, Mayor\u2019s Animal Liaison for the Grow South Initiative<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Joe Tave, <\/strong><\/span>Running for City Council in District 3<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Jay Acosta, <\/strong><\/span>Spay and Neuter Network<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Adrian Vela<\/strong>,<\/span> Field Services Supervisor, Dallas Animal Services (OC resident)<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Courtney Gustafson, <\/strong><\/span>Animal Care Center Manager, SPCA\u00a0(OC resident)<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Jimmy Tiller,<\/span>\u00a0 <\/strong>Operations Manager, The\u00a0Human Society of North Texas (HSNT) (OC resident)<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Deborah Whittington, <\/strong><\/span>Chairman for Code Compliance and Crime Watch for Bishop Arts, Dallas Morning News pet interest blogger\u00a0(OC resident)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">&amp;nsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Our guest speaker, <strong>Mai Brock, the Chief Interim Prosecutor,<\/strong> provided very valuable insight into how and where our current laws help protect animals.\u00a0And <strong>Joe Tave<\/strong>, who is running for City Council District 3, listened and then spoke to the room about his commitment to helping solve the animal issues for the City.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Agenda<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Ground Rules\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Scott Griggs&#8217; Comments<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Last Year\u2019s Topics<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>This Year\u2019s Known Areas for Improvement<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Putting the Animal CONTROL Back in Animal Services<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>The City Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 Animal Law<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Put animal WELFARE back in Animal Services<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Education Initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Neighborhood cats<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Recap action items<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">&amp;nsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #999999;\">1. &amp; 2.<\/span><span style=\"color: #999999;\">\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Introduction and Ground Rules<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">We started the meeting<\/span> with some baseline rules of engagement:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Identify the Issues &#8211;<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>We need to identify issues to solve them, but the meeting was not a gripe session.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Say it with a smile<\/strong> <\/span>and with respect- we were all there to collaborate to solve problems.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Agree to disagree<\/strong> &#8211;<\/span> healthy safe conflict always yields the best solutions. We may not all agree when openly discussing the issues, but we will respect each other&#8217;s positions.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Euthanasia &#8211;\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Tough choices: humane euthanasia or death by street life<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Let&#8217;s acknowledge that the\u00a0system is broken<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">&amp;nsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Our conversation worked from a baseline that the audience wouldn\u2019t be attending a 2-3 hour meeting on a beautiful Saturday morning if the residents\u00a0thought the current DAS, 311, and 911 system was working for animal issues.\u00a0We also worked from the baseline that humane euthanasia is better than death by street life and therefor if we address the loose street\u00a0dog issue,\u00a0euthanasia and intake rates at the shelter will have to go up before they go back down.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">We are FOR Dallas Animal Services.<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Dallas Animal Services (DAS) has made some great strides with the shelter, but we\u2019re addressing animal control today and that requires tough, honest conversations. Pre meeting surveys told us that DAS, while working hard, is not serving and meeting the full needs of the community.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>4.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Last Year\u2019s Topics<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>We <a title=\"Oak Cliff Animal Initiative\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=5007\" target=\"_blank\">reviewed last year&#8217;s topics <\/a>and started the conversation under last year&#8217;s 80\/20 Police Department model. The room was in alignment that not much has changed in the last year in regard to the City&#8217;s process, policy, or results in addressing known, identified animal issues. The consensus was that despite everyone&#8217;s amazing efforts to restore the DAS budget (great job everyone) the loose animal issues, in general, were worse. From the baseline we moved into this year&#8217;s identified issues and action items.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #999999;\">5.<\/span><\/strong><\/span> <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999; text-decoration: underline;\">This Year\u2019s Known Areas for\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Improvement<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Communication and Tracking \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">There is a new $$$$ system in place that is supposed to solve the communication issues between 311 and DAS. We are told that the new system is designed to allow for meaningful tracking of dogs and calls.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Let\u2019s document the successes and challenges of the new systems.\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Now more than ever it is important to report loose dogs to 311 and to request a follow up call.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Volunteers<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>The neighborhood wants to help solve these issues through volunteering and boots on the ground education initiatives.\n<ul>\n<li>Last year DAS\u00a0was been given a $300k grant to start a volunteer program.<\/li>\n<li>Ask DAS\u00a0to set a transparent expectation for how the\u00a0program will allow the public to volunteer.<\/li>\n<li>Ask DAS to include our neighborhoods&#8217; requested for a volunteer system that allows for and facilitates a neighborhood liaison.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Shelter Policy an<span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">d Procedure:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><strong>Need consistent policy and procedures.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Address known issues with policy and procedure:<\/span> <\/strong>The Aussie case and investigation put a lot of media attention on known issues with:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Conduct<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Documentation <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Process and procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Actively listening and solving issues from the user&#8217;s \/ taxpayer&#8217;s perspective<\/li>\n<li>These issues are ongoing even after the Aussie investigation has closed and &#8220;updates&#8221; have been made to SOPs (standard operating procedures).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">No intake procedure:\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The city has been &#8220;working&#8221; on this for quite some time now. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Demand to know when will the procedure will be ready and published!?!<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Lack of intake procedure and process causes confusion for employees and residents about the intake process, hold times, euthanasia guidelines, \u00a0and it sets confusing and unrealistic expectations on both sides.<\/li>\n<li>\u201cCheck IDs\u201d \u2013 currently, it is NOT\u00a0required to hand your ID over and have it scanned. The intake desk will tell you they have to do it.\n<ul>\n<li>This is most likely adding to the dumping problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">What happens to illegal residents<\/span> <\/strong>if they need a service or need to claim a pet?\n<ul>\n<li>There is no written policy on this<\/li>\n<li>Currently the gap between written policy and the perceived policy about showing and photocopying IDs is causing issues with residents&#8217; willingness to claim their animals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>When does the 72 hour hold start?<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The head of DAS and the operations manager\u00a0of the shelter give differing opinions on this procedure when in the same room together. Let&#8217;s get this on paper in clear, easy to understand language and cascade the policy out to employees and the public.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Be clear about what TIME of day the dog will be released from its hold. Currently, people think they have through the end of the hold period &#8211; but the EU list is made in the morning and that causes confusion. The dogs are often already dead when people come to get them thinking they are still on hold through the end of the day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Rules of engagement<\/span> \u00a0 <\/strong>&#8211; Advocate with your City for a set of rules of engagement with the public rescuers (non 5013c rescuers). DAS currently does not see the value in collaborating with single and high volume rescuers like all the residents in attendance at the meeting. Scott Griggs is working with Gypsy Dog Ops (GDO) and the City to ensure proper rules of engagement are drafted so you do not to have a non-profit status to help our City&#8217;s animals.<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Policy and Procedure for \u201cbehavioral\u201d animals<\/span> <\/strong>\u2013 including shy or scared. There is currently no meaningful training for anyone on staff for animal behavior. We feel very strongly that everyone from the cleaning people to the intake officers, to the receptionist, to the head of the shelter should have modern behavioral and assessment training. Life and death decisions are being made by unqualified, untrained staff. Untrained staff are unknowingly compounding the issues with shy or fearful dogs. We have solid information about the training practices &#8211; you would be\u00a0shocked at the training given to animals handlers. The animals and the people are both at risk because of a lack of a meaningful training programs and a lack of budgeting for training. Advocate for a plan!\n<ul>\n<li>Since the OCAI2 meeting was held, we have been in touch with the SPCA whose volunteer training is sadly, more training than DAS staff gets. They have monthly training session for staff and volunteers. We are trying to create a collaboration that allows\u00a0DAS access to SPCA training classes. We are working to make sure the DAS employees can get required continuing education credits for the SPCA training. More to come soon. This looks like it could be a win win for everyone.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Advocate for new law: <\/strong><\/span>advocate for <a title=\"Help shelter dogs with ONE CLICK\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=6594\" target=\"_blank\">new laws at a State level<\/a> that would prevent euthanasia of healthy animals when the shelter is not full. \u00a0This is NOT advocating for a no-kill shelter. We are in no way advocating for a no-kill shelter. That is a lovely aspirational goal after the loose dog population is back under control.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Resolve the conflict of interests and make a united team:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Address the conflict of interest<b> <\/b>between DCAP \/ DAS \/ Animal Commission.\n<ul>\n<li>Please review and support the restructure proposed by Scott Grigg\u2019s office as it becomes available in May.<\/li>\n<li>Advocate for a panel (non-voting) with management level membership from: 311\/ Code Compliance\/Police Department\/Public Information Office.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>The shelter is not just for 501-3cs<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>One service level for all.\n<ul>\n<li>Councilman Griggs is working with us proposing a supplemental \u201cnon 501-3c rescue friends\u201d protocol<\/li>\n<li>Expect professional level conduct from anyone on payroll or the temp agency<\/li>\n<li>Expect professional behavior and equitable level of service from all associated with DAS: DCAP \/ DAS \/ Animal Commissioners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Create an\u00a0environment\u00a0of trust, collaboration, and\u00a0open communication<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Create a trust environment where employees and animals are not in danger when a complaint or area of improvement is noted<\/li>\n<li>Ensure a consistent, appropriate, professional messaging to the public<\/li>\n<li>Use of a Public Information Officer (PIO) like other departments\u00a0even for Facebook and social media.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>6.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Putting the\u00a0Animal CONTROL back in Animal Services\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Restructure: Systematically revamp and modernize!<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Animal Control <\/strong><\/span>and safety and quality of life are part of DAS\u2019 mission \u2013 make it part of the business plan<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Vision:<\/span> <\/strong>This requires a different kind of budget and planning.\n<ul>\n<li>Let\u2019s treat this like a legit business<\/li>\n<li>Understand needs of customer<\/li>\n<li>Audit process for efficiencies and effectiveness<\/li>\n<li>What drives cost structure?<\/li>\n<li>Prepare feasible budget and business plans for 3-5 years<\/li>\n<li>Forensic accounting<\/li>\n<li>Stop throwing good money after bad<\/li>\n<li>You can\u2019t fix a problem if you won\u2019t acknowledge it<\/li>\n<li>Get an outside consultant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Police Department Model<\/strong><\/span> \u2013 80\/20 rule\n<ul>\n<li>Budget for education and enforcement initiatives and a community liaison<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Training for behaviorally sound methods and best practices<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Modern best practices require this kind of training for success<\/li>\n<li>Every interaction counts<\/li>\n<li>Efficiencies and success comes from every interaction with an animal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Expect compliance and promote a spay and neuter culture.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>Loose, dangerous, feral and hard to catch dogs \u2013 yes, we expect DAS to pick them up!\n<ul>\n<li>Tools for success\n<ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Community liaison \/ Neighborhood Officer<\/li>\n<li>Enforcement tools:\n<ul>\n<li>Tickets<\/li>\n<li>Court<\/li>\n<li>Welfare and compliance checks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Intact &#8211; uncompliant<\/li>\n<li>Loose intact &#8211; Return to owner<\/li>\n<li>Repeat offender<\/li>\n<li>Spay and Neuter enforcement\n<ul>\n<li>Provide no and low cost spay and neuter laws and resources\n<ul>\n<li>How long is too long?<\/li>\n<li>Current waiting list is 3-4 months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Tracking and ticketing of repeat offenders\n<ul>\n<li>Old system does not allow for tracking\n<ul>\n<li>New system?\u00a0Let&#8217;s be sure to report, follow up, and test the system&#8217;s abilities. You can post your 311 service request numbers and experience on the <a title=\"DAS accountability page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/921394601224531\/\" target=\"_blank\">DAS accountability Facebook page t<\/a>hat Jeremy Boss has set up.<\/li>\n<li>You can also send any unresolved issues to us <a title=\"Contact Us\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?page_id=1623\" target=\"_blank\">here at Gypsy Dog Ops <\/a>and we&#8217;ll see what we can do to help facilitate a positive outcome and resolution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Training for all<\/li>\n<li>Acknowledge the loose dog crisis.\n<ul>\n<li>Other nearby cities acknowledging the problem and are getting out front in addressing stray and loose animals:\n<ul>\n<li>Fort Worth has a stray team dedicated behaviorally trained specialist for targeted tracking<\/li>\n<li>SPCA has behavioral training for under or unsocial dogs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>7.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>The City Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 Animal Law<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>In January, we sent a list of questions regarding animal law to the City Attorney&#8217;s office. Our valued collaborator and Community Prosector, Yulise Waters, connected us to the city prosecutors that specialized in animal law. From that exchange we were able to find the right person to speak to the animal law and issues at the OCAI2.<\/p>\n<p>Our guest speaker,\u00a0<strong>Mai Brock, the Chief Interim Prosecutor,<\/strong>\u00a0provided very valuable insight into how and where our current laws work to help protect animals. We really appreciate her time and participation in the conversation.<\/p>\n<p>Her office is working on putting the answers to our original questions in writing. As soon as they are available, we will post them here. We learned some insightful, but upsetting, things about the way our animal laws are currently written. We learned that under the current ordinances, our tethering laws are very hard to enforce and prosecute.<\/p>\n<p>We also talked to Prosecutor Brock\u00a0about having a regular &#8220;Donuts with the DA&#8221; meeting. It would act as an informal meeting to inform and align residents and the City&#8217;s Attorney&#8217;s Office on how laws are working, what to do when, etc. etc. It would also allow for an open informative conversation about what the people need to advocate to change and tighten city animal ordinances.<\/p>\n<p>We look forward to this collaboration and specific action items that the Attorney&#8217;s office can recommend so that we can petition the City to rewrite our laws and ordinances so the intent of the law can more easily be enforced. We will post as soon as we have a date for a follow up meeting from the City Attorney&#8217;s side of the presentation.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>8.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Putting the animal WELFARE\u00a0back in Dallas\u00a0Animal Services<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>When did it stop being about the animals?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Put the \u201cwhy\u201d back in the shelter.<\/span><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">\u00a0<\/span> <\/strong>Why does DAS exist? Animals should be better off for our interaction, not worse. Even if the result is a humane euthanasia, the animals deserve to be treated with respect and care with every interaction.\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Base services<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Once upon a time, Dallas Animal Services was called Animal Control. The base service should still be humane animal control. \u00a0Currently, that is not part of DAS&#8217; \u00a0 measured goals or objectives.<\/li>\n<li>Animal control is the one thing that should always remain in the budget when times are tight. If the budget is too small, shelters can rely on existing partnerships with private rescues and corporate sponsors to help with adoptions and adoption centers, but you cannot outsource the shelter&#8217;s responsibility to animal control and safety and quality life on our streets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Compassion Fatigue<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Don&#8217;t tolerate it. It costs lives and creates conditions that allow for inhumane treatment of animals.<\/li>\n<li>Demand DAS put in checks, balances, support, and training to combat compassion fatigue.<\/li>\n<li>The current culture allows for an attitude of complacency.\n<ul>\n<li>Don\u2019t accept:\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWe have a lot of animals, so they are going to get sick, that\u2019s just how it is.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cWe have a lot of animals, we don\u2019t have time to help yours\u201d<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;We have a lot of temp employees and can&#8217;t be expected to train them because they change too often&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>\u201cWe are understaffed so we can\u2019t be expected to do that\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cPicking up street dogs is not worth the return on DAS\u2019s investment\u201d<\/li>\n<li>\u201cToo busy to deal with neighborhood issues\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Each animal has value and rights<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>While we may not be able to ultimately help them all into a forever home, each animal has value and how they are treated matters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Customer service training from the top down<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>It just shouldn\u2019t be that hard to help an animal. The public is not the enemy. Animal advocates of any kind or affiliation should be considered partners towards a common goal and mission.<\/li>\n<li>User feedback is valuable &#8211; leadership should listen with intent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Advocate for collaboration rules and policy<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Let get behavioral and assessment training<\/span><\/strong> for ALL\u00a0shelter employees\n<ul>\n<li>Every interaction counts!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Spay and Neuter Enforcement &#8211;\u00a0DEMAND this of the City budget!<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>How long is too long to allow an owner to get into full compliance?\n<ul>\n<li>If there is enough time for another litter \u2013 it is too long!<\/li>\n<li>Male dogs should be picked up immediately and returned to the owner, neutered, \u00a0the same day or the following\u00a0day. (under the daily field services appointments)<\/li>\n<li>If there are not enough appointments to do this&#8230;\n<ul>\n<li><b>Get more field services spay and neuter appointments<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li>Measure the need and budget for it!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>If one (1) dog can be responsible for over 600 new dogs in 3 years<\/strong>\u2026.<strong>The return on investment for this <\/strong><strong>ONE THING <\/strong>is <strong>BIGGER<\/strong> and will reach farther than any other one thing DAS can do.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>9.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999; text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Community Initiatives<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"text-decoration: underline; color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Compliance and Education Initiatives<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Low Cost and No Cost Resources<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Bad news:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Big Fix For Big D\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Not all zip codes \/ no 75208<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pets for Life<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Only in one zip code 75216<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Good News:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>New connections and collaboration with Spay and Neuter Network, SPCA, and the HSNT. We look forward to structuring a solution with consistent go to resources through collaboration with these groups. Talks have started and we&#8217;ll post needs and news as we get this going.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Request compliance checks and educational interventions through 311<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Expect this service<\/span> &#8211; <\/strong>DAS does not\u00a0have to pick up loose dogs, but they are required to go on\u00a0compliance and welfare checks.\n<ul>\n<li>Put in requests\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Request a follow up call<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Document the Service Request # <\/strong>(SR#)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Include address<\/li>\n<li>Description of animal<\/li>\n<li>Problem<\/li>\n<li>Make a compliance and education request<\/li>\n<li>Post to Jeremy Boss&#8217; <a title=\"DAS accountability page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/921394601224531\/\" target=\"_blank\">DAS Accountability page<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Ownership and responsibilities handouts\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Flyers are\u00a0available for download for those who would like to proactively pass out\u00a0&#8220;<a title=\"Your Pets \u2013 Your Responsibilities\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?page_id=5807\" target=\"_blank\">Your Pets, Your Responsibilities&#8221;<\/a> flyers out to neighbors.<\/li>\n<li>Demand the City keep up consistent low and no cost resources\n<ul>\n<li>Big Fix For Big D is cancelled again for many zip codes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Reporting and Safety Initiatives<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Dog Walker Program through Dallas Police Department<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Save the date for the inaugural \u00a0&#8220;Dog Walker Watch&#8221; meeting<\/li>\n<li>Date: Thursday, May 14th at 7pm\u00a0<span class=\"text_exposed_show\"><br \/>\nLocation: Tyler Street United Methodist Church<br \/>\n927 West 10th Street<\/span><\/li>\n<li>This is a new program offered by the Dallas Police Department. The basic idea is to learn how to watch for criminals or suspicious activity while out walking your dog. This includes loose dogs and animal issues. Come check it out!<a href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/St-Francis-With-AnimalsAndACatchPole.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-6887 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/St-Francis-With-AnimalsAndACatchPole.jpg\" alt=\"St-Francis-With-AnimalsAndACatchPole\" width=\"200\" height=\"253\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>The Blessing of the Animals<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>We have chosen Sunday, October 4<sup>th<\/sup> is St. Francis Feast day, which is the traditional blessing of the Animals Day.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We will be\u00a0collaborating with Tyler\u00a0Street\u00a0United Methodist Church (TSUMC) and Body Oak Cliff to\u00a0outreach to many Oak Cliff community churches and congregations to educate our communities on what it is to be a good dog owner and a steward of a companion animal through both God&#8217;s law and the city ordinances.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li>The Oak Cliff Blessing of the Animals event will\u00a0hopefully reach deep into our communities \u00a0connecting people with resources and information. We will let the church leaders, the trusted, respected, experts, speak to their communities about what it means to be a good steward of God&#8217;s creatures. This outreach will hopefully dispel any cultural misconceptions that organized\u00a0religion\u00a0is the against spay and neuter of our companion animals. \u00a0The church will help grow, influence, and inform multiple generations of companion animal owners and the this influence\u00a0will spread out into the community and help create a spay and neuter culture.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0TSUMC offers a central location, abundant parking, and recovery space for a potential vaccination, microchipping, and spay and neuter event.\n<ul>\n<li>We will be collaborating with the Spay and Neuter Network to bring low and no cost services to this event.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>C2K &#8211; Oak Cliff&#8217;s urban mission<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>We are working with C2K to allow large groups of mission kids to work with and help advocate for our City&#8217;s animals all summer long.\n<ul>\n<li>Groups of 60-100 kids come to the mission every week all summer long. We plan on facilitating lots of opportunities for them to help with dog training, education initiatives, volunteer bed building, toy making, dog walking, etc. etc<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">New Partnerships and conversations.<\/span><\/strong> Thanks to the OCAI2, we are starting\u00a0talks with the <a title=\"SPCA\" href=\"http:\/\/www.spca.org\" target=\"_blank\">SPCA<\/a>, the <a title=\"Humane Society of North Texas\" href=\"http:\/\/www.hsnt.org\" target=\"_blank\">Humane Society of North Texas<\/a>, and the S<a title=\"Spay and Neuter Network\" href=\"https:\/\/spayneuternet.org\" target=\"_blank\">pay and Neuter Network t<\/a>o help better understand how we can help them with their missions and they can help the community in addressing our loose and stray animal issues. We are looking forward to sharing action item in the weeks to come.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">&amp;nsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>10.<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong> Neighborhood Cats<\/strong><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #999999;\">\u00a0<\/span>are good. We don&#8217;t talk about them much for several\u00a0reasons. We know of no known incident where a feral cat killed or mauled a human. The same cannot said\u00a0about feral dogs. When we control the loose dog population, the cats are safer. Finally, there are established programs and resources for &#8220;porch&#8221; kitties or cat colonies. The programs work.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The law allows for them. Trap Neuter and Release resources are available:\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Feral Friends\" href=\"http:\/\/www.feralfriends.org\" target=\"_blank\">Feral Friends<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Spay and Neuter Network\" href=\"https:\/\/spayneuternet.org\" target=\"_blank\">Spay and Neuter Network<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>&amp;nsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>11.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><strong>Action Items<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We have created a list of questions that we will send to City Leadership. The questions are as follows, to include requests for future appointments or meetings:\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>City Attorney&#8217;s office <\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(email sent to Mai Brock on March 31)<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Agreed to provide a written list answers to the questions submitted by GDO in January<\/li>\n<li>Expressed interest in a future &#8220;Donuts with the DA&#8221; type meeting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Scott Griggs&#8217; office:<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Follow up meeting in May (meeting date set)<\/li>\n<li>GDO to request attendance at the 2nd quarterly OCAI meeting\n<ul>\n<li>Action item for GDO: Date and time to be set and shared<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Dallas Animal Services (DAS):<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Dallas Companion Animal Project (DCAP):<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>What resources are available for spay and neuter in our zip codes?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">SPCA<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Potential training collaboration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Oak Cliff Animal Initiative<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Set 2nd quarter meeting<\/li>\n<li>See GDO to do list below<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Gypsy Dog Ops<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Publish future budgets\u00a0meeting\u00a0dates and times.<\/li>\n<li>Publish and known &#8220;town hall&#8221; budget meetings.<\/li>\n<li>Set time and date for the Oak Cliff Animal Initiative 2nd quarter meeting.\n<ul>\n<li>Publish date.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Set up training sessions for:\n<ul>\n<li>Neighbors: How to approach and catch a loose dog using sound behavioral approach. In the meantime, here are some <a title=\"Tips on how to catch a loose dog\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=6936\" target=\"_blank\">tips on how to catch a loose dog<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>DAS: Facilitate potential collaboration between the SPCA training program and DAS continuing education (CE) credits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Attend follow up meeting in May with Assistant City Manager, Scott Griggs, Code Compliance, Chris Watts, and\u00a0Deborah Whittington. (meeting date set)\n<ul>\n<li>Share results of the Shelter Commission&#8217;s work on the rules of engagement for non &#8211; 501-3c groups and individuals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Set up future &#8220;Donuts with the DA&#8221; type meeting (email sent to Mai Brock March 30th)\n<ul>\n<li>Talk about how to tighten the tether laws<\/li>\n<li>How to tighten illegal vending laws<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Publish Q&amp;A from the City Attorney&#8217;s office \u00a0(email sent to Mai Brock March 30th)<\/li>\n<li>Send questions from the meeting to the appropriate dept.\n<ul>\n<li>For DAS\n<ul>\n<li>What is DAS doing for education awareness in our area?<\/li>\n<li>When will the volunteer program be ready and rolled out?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Code Compliance and DAS\n<ul>\n<li>Is there an incentive (of any kind) for closing a ticket?<\/li>\n<li>What is the recommend \/ policy regarding multiple reports of dogs\n<ul>\n<li>Should callers request or accept combining calls\/ SR# for loose dogs?\n<ul>\n<li>311 operators have been suggesting to combine the call<\/li>\n<li>How do you know if the call(s) are resolved if they are combined?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>For DCAP:\n<ul>\n<li>Are there any unused funds from the Big Fix for Big D<\/li>\n<li>Is the Big Fix for Big D going to include 75208?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Let City leaders know <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">you expect transparent answers to our follow up list of questions. As requested,\u00a0a list of high level leadership that can influence the\u00a0outcome for our\u00a0City&#8217;s animals and residents.<\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">DAS\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>(Dallas Animal Services )\n<ul>\n<li>Jody Jones, Director Dallas Animal Services<\/li>\n<li>Dr Cate McMannus, Director of Shelter Operations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Code Compliance <\/span><\/strong>(DAS us under Code Compliance)<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">City Manager\u2019s Office\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>AC Gonzalez, City Manager<\/li>\n<li>Joey Zapata, Assistant City Manager<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>City Attorney\u2019s Office<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Susan Hawk, Dallas County DA<\/li>\n<li>Mai Brock, Chief Interim Prosecutor<\/li>\n<li>Yule Waters, Community Prosecutor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Mayor<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Mike Rawlings<\/li>\n<li>Mary Spencer, Grow South Initiative, Animal Liaison<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">City Council<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Scott Griggs District 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">DCAP <\/span><\/strong>(Dallas Companion Animal Project)\n<ul>\n<li>Mary Spencer<\/li>\n<li>Maleska\u00a0Fletes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Animal Commission<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Mary Spencer<\/li>\n<li>Chris Watts District 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Follow<\/strong><\/span><a title=\"Gypsy Dog Ops Facebook page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/GypsydogOps\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong> Gyspydog Ops<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0on\u00a0Facebook<\/a> and on <a title=\"Gypsy Dog Ops\" href=\"GypsyDogOps.com\" target=\"_blank\">our website<\/a> for more information\u00a0and next steps\u00a0as they become available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Send emails \/ letter \/ and make calls\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>to City leadership letting them know you agree with the ideas proposed in by the Oak Cliff Animal Initiative and let them know you expect the City to prompt address animal issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Help document the issue using the existing system<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Report loose dogs every time <\/strong>you see them<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use 311 <\/strong>to report loose dogs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get the service numbers!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/311-app_SeeItSnapitSendIt..jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"  wp-image-6889 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/311-app_SeeItSnapitSendIt.-287x300.jpg\" alt=\"311 app_SeeItSnapitSendIt.\" width=\"204\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/311-app_SeeItSnapitSendIt.-287x300.jpg 287w, http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/311-app_SeeItSnapitSendIt..jpg 298w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 204px) 100vw, 204px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><b>Get ready to attend budget meetings<\/b><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Town Hall budget meeting are coming up \u2013 participate!<\/li>\n<li>Demand the\u00a0DAS budget to SHOW\u00a0directly\u00a0how they plan to use resources to address our loose animal issues.<\/li>\n<li>We will post a list of important dates on the GypsyDogOps.com as soon as they are released in the next month<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spay-and-neuter.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-6888 alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spay-and-neuter-300x282.jpg\" alt=\"spay and neuter\" width=\"300\" height=\"282\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spay-and-neuter-300x282.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/spay-and-neuter.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Promote a Spay And Neuter Culture\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"line-height: 1.5;\">Let your leaders know that you expect education initiatives, low cost resources, compliance, and enforcement from your world class City and its Animal Services Division<\/li>\n<li>Spread the word about the benefits of a spay and neuter culture<\/li>\n<li>Expect compliance \u2013 it\u2019s the law<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Help shape the law &#8211; sign up for legislation alerts<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Texas Humane Legislation Network\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/thln.com\/\">http:\/\/thln.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Work with and support:\n<ul>\n<li>SPCA and<\/li>\n<li>The Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Attend our &#8220;Donuts with the DA&#8221; meeting \u00a0&#8211; we&#8217;ll make an announcement when\u00a0the first one is scheduled<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">Mark your calendars:<\/span><\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Elmwoof event: Dog Days of Summer &#8211; date TBD<\/li>\n<li>Budget meetings: Dates TBD<\/li>\n<li>Oak Cliff Blessing of the Animals\n<ul>\n<li>October 4th<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\"><strong>Participate in the conversation.<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>Compassion without action is just feeling sorry for something.<\/li>\n<li>Big, small, there is a way for everyone to help change the animal culture in our communities.<\/li>\n<li><b>ADVOCATE \u00a0 EDUCATE \u00a0 VOLUNTEER\u00a0 ADOPT \u00a0 VOTE<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #00ccff;\">\u00a0Thank you!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>and if you made it all the way to the end of the recap of the meeting, one special bonus for you from the official meeting minutes. Some of us learned a new word during the meeting. And it was being used the next day on the Fido page. You might already know all about: duchecanoe. We looked up in the <a title=\"Duche canoe urban dictionary\" href=\"http:\/\/www.urbandictionary.com\/define.php?term=Douche+Canoe\" target=\"_blank\">urban dictionary<\/a>&#8230;.click it if you want to know, and at your own risk.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year&#8217;s Oak Cliff Animal Initiative was a big success. Over 60 neighbors and animal advocates\u00a0took the time on a\u00a0beautiful spring morning to listen and productively discuss the animal issues facing our neighborhoods and city. We continued our conversation based on last year&#8217;s positive framework as we openly discussed the challenges of the City&#8217;s current policy, resources, and laws. Below is a summary of the meeting. Be prepared &#8211; it&#8217;s long, but it&#8217;s important. Read it a little here and there\u00a0or plan on a few minutes to read it in its entirety&#8230;it was a 2 1\/2 hour long productive meeting, so be prepared for lots of words. Even a new word you might not have known. A big thank you to all our neighbors, volunteers, guest speakers, and to Scott Griggs&#8217; office for arranging the room and providing our fabulous morning snack and Joe. Our\u00a0Goals:\u00a0 As an army of many, together we can change our City\u2019s animal culture by\u00a0facilitating positive open conversation and collaboration\u00a0in pursuit of solving our City\u2019s animal issues. We can enact change when we: Connect, Inform and Empower Connect residents, advocates, businesses, rescuers, and\u00a0passionate animal advocates with each other Exchange information through open conversations with each other and with the City about animal laws, resources, and known issues with the current system. Facilitate and Communicate Together, we can identify issues and communicate clear expectations with City leaders and Dallas Animal Services. As an army of many, we can spread educational information and help both create and demand a spay and neuter culture for our city. Our neighborhoods are filled with individuals that rescue, volunteer, and advocate to save and help animals every day.\u00a0As our culturally diverse neighborhoods come together, we quickly\u00a0see\u00a0that dogs don\u2019t know neighborhood boundaries and our cross neighborhood collaboration is key to success. We share common animal issues and we share common resource needs.\u00a0It is to our advantage to present a unified voice to help prioritize animal issues for the city.\u00a0 The 2nd annual Oak Cliff Animal Initiative (OCAI2) guests included a\u00a0diverse group of stakeholders including: Oak Cliff residents Crime Watch groups Individual rescuers Businesses City Council The Mayor&#8217;s liaison on animal issues, Mary Spencer, The press &amp;nsp; Special Guests: We had many special guests in\u00a0the audience, many of whom came to listen in an official\u00a0capacity and as an OC neighbor. Mary Spencer, Dallas Animal Commission Chair, Dallas Companion Animal Project Board Member, Advisory Board Member for the Texas Humane Legislation Network, Mayor\u2019s Animal Liaison for the Grow South Initiative Joe Tave, Running for City Council in District 3 Jay Acosta, Spay and Neuter Network Adrian Vela, Field Services Supervisor, Dallas Animal Services (OC resident) Courtney Gustafson, Animal Care Center Manager, SPCA\u00a0(OC resident) Jimmy Tiller,\u00a0 Operations Manager, The\u00a0Human Society of North Texas (HSNT) (OC resident) Deborah Whittington, Chairman for Code Compliance and Crime Watch for Bishop Arts, Dallas Morning News pet interest blogger\u00a0(OC resident) &amp;nsp; Our guest speaker, Mai Brock, the Chief Interim Prosecutor, provided very valuable insight into how and where our current laws help protect animals.\u00a0And Joe Tave, who is running for City Council District 3, listened and then spoke to the room about his commitment to helping solve the animal issues for the City. Agenda Introduction Ground Rules\u00a0 Scott Griggs&#8217; Comments Last Year\u2019s Topics This Year\u2019s Known Areas for Improvement Putting the Animal CONTROL Back in Animal Services The City Attorney\u2019s Office \u2013 Animal Law Put animal WELFARE back in Animal Services Education Initiatives Neighborhood cats Recap action items\u00a0 &amp;nsp; 1. &amp; 2.\u00a0Introduction and Ground Rules We started the meeting with some baseline rules of engagement: Identify the Issues &#8211;\u00a0We need to identify issues to solve them, but the meeting was not a gripe session. Say it with a smile and with respect- we were all there to collaborate to solve problems. Agree to disagree &#8211; healthy safe conflict always yields the best solutions. We may not all agree when openly discussing the issues, but we will respect each other&#8217;s positions. Euthanasia &#8211;\u00a0Tough choices: humane euthanasia or death by street life Let&#8217;s acknowledge that the\u00a0system is broken &amp;nsp; Our conversation worked from a baseline that the audience wouldn\u2019t be attending a 2-3 hour meeting on a beautiful Saturday morning if the residents\u00a0thought the current DAS, 311, and 911 system was working for animal issues.\u00a0We also worked from the baseline that humane euthanasia is better than death by street life and therefor if we address the loose street\u00a0dog issue,\u00a0euthanasia and intake rates at the shelter will have to go up before they go back down. We are FOR Dallas Animal Services.\u00a0Dallas Animal Services (DAS) has made some great strides with the shelter, but we\u2019re addressing animal control today and that requires tough, honest conversations. Pre meeting surveys told us that DAS, while working hard, is not serving and meeting the full needs of the community. 4. Last Year\u2019s Topics We reviewed last year&#8217;s topics and started the conversation under last year&#8217;s 80\/20 Police Department model. The room was in alignment that not much has changed in the last year in regard to the City&#8217;s process, policy, or results in addressing known, identified animal issues. The consensus was that despite everyone&#8217;s amazing efforts to restore the DAS budget (great job everyone) the loose animal issues, in general, were worse. From the baseline we moved into this year&#8217;s identified issues and action items. 5. This Year\u2019s Known Areas for\u00a0Improvement Communication and Tracking \u00a0 There is a new $$$$ system in place that is supposed to solve the communication issues between 311 and DAS. We are told that the new system is designed to allow for meaningful tracking of dogs and calls. Let\u2019s document the successes and challenges of the new systems. Now more than ever it is important to report loose dogs to 311 and to request a follow up call. Volunteers The neighborhood wants to help solve these issues through volunteering and boots on the ground education initiatives. Last year DAS\u00a0was been given a $300k grant to start a volunteer program. Ask DAS\u00a0to set [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-follow-our-progress-with-the-city","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/TowHallPoster_2015_email.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6801"}],"version-history":[{"count":132,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6975,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6801\/revisions\/6975"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}