Sunday, August 28, 2011

Article in TheSpec by Kit Cat Club's Mary Lee

Excerpt from TheSpec - Tiger town should help stray and feral cats: "Felines are not disposable. We are responsible for making our communities a safe and positive space for all the living things that call it home.

Please Hamilton, let’s push our mayor and councillors to adopt a universal spaying and neutering program for feral cats immediately. It is a win-win situation and a matter of life and death for these unloved cats."

Full Article Here.

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An Article by Nikki Briggs of Pride Rescue from Sunday, July 3, 2011:
http://www.thespec.com/opinion/columns/article/556156--more-cats-than-good-intentions-can-save

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Full Contact List for Mayor and Council

Keep the Letter Writing Campaign efforts alive! Write your Mayor and Councillors about the Hamilton Animal Control today:

Mayor Bob Bratina - The Office of the Mayor
Hamilton City Hall, 71 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-4200
Fax: 905-546-2340
Email: mayor@hamilton.ca

Brian McHattie - Ward 1
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2416
Email: Brian.McHattie@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Nikola Wojewoda-Patti, 905-546-4528, Nikola.Wojewoda-Patti@hamilton.ca
Assistant: Dale Brown, 905-546-2226, Dale.Brown@hamilton.ca

Jason Farr - Ward 2
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2711
Email: Jason.Farr@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Maureen Scally, 905-546-4677, Maureen.Scally@hamilton.ca

Bernie Morelli - Ward 3
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2702
Email: Bernie.Morelli@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Nick Westoll, 905-546-4550, Nick.Westoll@hamilton.ca

Sam Merulla - Ward 4
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-4512
Email: Sam.Merulla@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Pager (24/7): 905-777-7491
Executive Assistant: Diane Piedimonte, 905-546-3168, Diane.Piedimonte@hamilton.ca

Chad Collins - Ward 5
Hamilton City Hall
2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2716
Email: Chad.Collins@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Residence: 905-545-3737
Assistant: Lucy Finelli, 905-546-4679, Lucy.Finelli@hamilton.ca

Tom Jackson - Ward 6
Hamilton City Hall
2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2707
Email: Tom.Jackson@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Nancy Bates, 905-546-4695, Nancy.Bates@hamilton.ca

Scott Duvall - Ward 7
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2706
Mobile: 905-973-1720
Email: Scott.Duvall@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Monique Taylor, 905-546-3929, Monique.Taylor@hamilton.ca

Terry Whitehead - Ward 8
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2712
Email: Terry.Whitehead@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Colleen Wicken, 905-546-2779, Colleen.Wicken@hamilton.ca

Brad Clark - Ward 9
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2703
Email: Brad.Clark@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Robert Ribaric, 905-546-3210, Robert.Ribaric@hamilton.ca

Maria Pearson - Ward 10
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2701
Mobile: 905-973-7418
Email: Maria.Pearson@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Christine DiGiantomasso, 905-546-3192, Christine.DiGiantomasso@hamilton.ca

Brenda Johnson - Ward 11
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-4513
Email: Brenda.Johnson@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Kathy Dinney, 905-546-4678, Kathy.Dinney@hamilton.ca

Lloyd Ferguson - Ward 12
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2704
Email: Lloyd.Ferguson@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Executive Assistant: Kathy Bishop, 905-546-3196, Kathy.Bishop@hamilton.ca

Russ Powers - Ward 13
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2714
Email: Russ.Powers@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2769
Assistant: Arlene VanderBeek, 905-546-3190, Arlene.VanderBeek@hamilton.ca

Robert Pasuta - Ward 14
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2705
Email: Robert.Pasuta@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Lynne Cecchetti, 905-546-4643, Lynne.Cecchetti@hamilton.ca

Judi Partridge - Ward 15
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Phone: 905-546-2713
Email: Judi.Partridge@hamilton.ca
Fax: 905-546-2535
Assistant: Alison Morrison, 905-546-3944, Alison.Morrison@hamilton.ca

Mrs. Rose Caterini - Office of the City Clerk
Hamilton City Hall, 2nd Floor - 71 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Fax: 905-546-2095
E-mail: clerk@hamilton.ca

Reminder: Hamilton Council Meeting re: Animal Control Reforms on September 20th, 2011.
NB: Agendas are normally available the Friday before a meeting.
Monday meeting agendas are normally available the Thursday before the meeting.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Issues, Solutions and How You Can Help

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THE ISSUES:

-Approximately 3000 cats and 300 dogs are killed every year at the Hamilton Animal Control
-No public adoptions offered
-Inconvenient opening hours for people to reclaim their companion animals
-Only 72 hour minimum hold time before killing
-No feral cat program
-No spay and neuter program
-No education program

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THE SOLUTIONS:

-Open up public adoptions
-Expand network of rescues
-Extend opening hours for working people to reclaim their pets
-Give rescues and individuals more than 72 hour minimum to save lives
-Stop picking up people's pets
-Respond to complaints only
-Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) program
-Low cost, high volume spay and neuter clinic or rebate program to use with existing vets
-Public education programs, and more

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HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Spay or neuter your pets.
2. Do not let your cats roam.
3. Adopt from a rescue or shelter.
4. Join our Facebook groups (no spam or trolling, please),
“Hamilton Animal Control - Stop the Killings" www.facebook.com/groups/StopTheKillings and
ORA Animal Rescue www.facebook.com/ORArescue
5. Write the Mayor & Councillors to demand change. Sample letter & all email addresses available on the HAC-STK Facebook site.
6. Build Awareness. Tell everyone you know what is happening at the Hamilton Animal Control.
7. Attend Protests & Rallies. Details to be found on our Facebook sites.

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About the Hamilton Animal Control:
Hamilton Animal Control comes under the jurisdiction of the Planning and Economic Development Department of the City of Hamilton, and their division is the Parking and By-Law Services. A section of this group is the Animal Control, which is responsible for the issuance of animal licences, lost and found animal reporting services, animal education, receipt and impounding of stray animals that have been confined, responding to service requests respecting injured or dead wildlife and when necessary, enforcement under the Dog Licensing and Control By-law and various other Animal Control by-laws. Hamilton Animal Control also has two private contractors that service the Flamborough and Glanbrook communities.


About the "Hamilton Animal Control - Stop the Killings" Group:
Founded in 2008 by Ken Wood and Terry Chapman Hutchison, the "Hamilton Animal Control - Stop the Killings" (HAC-STK) Group is an open public forum on Facebook dedicated to saving more animal lives and working towards positive, long-term changes at the Hamilton Animal Control/Hamilton Burlington SPCA. Concerned residents, rescuers and activists are invited to gather here to connect with like minds, post relevant news, initiate action, debate shelter reform, and share advocacy ideas.


About ORA-Organization for the Rescue of Animals:
Founded in 2002 by Claudia Vecchio and Corinne Thaw, ORA -- Organization for the Rescue of Animals is a registered charitable organization promoting the humane treatment of animals and the preservation of Wildlife. ORA is operating in and around the Greater Toronto Area, working for the well-being and protection of all animals. ORA's animal rescues thrive within a network of foster homes until they are adopted out into forever loving homes. 100% volunteer run, with zero government funding and no shelter to speak of, ORA relies solely upon the supportive generosity of members and donors to fund its programs and rescue operations.

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EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL EVENT INVITATION:


Calgary’s Bill Bruce brings his shelter expertise to
the Intercontinental Toronto-Yorkville Hotel at
220 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1T8 CANADA
on Friday, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011, at 7:00 PM.


Tickets are $11.30 (tax included)
Advance Ticket Sales Only—Call 416-726-5762
or visit orarescue.org for more information.

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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Post-Rally 2 Thank You

Huge thanks to ORA volunteers and friends, HAC-STK administrators and members, and everyone who has pitched in and worked so hard to prepare for Saturday's Rally! Special thanks as well to those of you who came out to protest and support our second rally effort for the animals at the Hamilton Animal Control.

Here is how it all went down:

Jack Clark: "Fantastic 2nd Rally yesterday! More and more caring animal lovers of Hamilton are now joining us for reform of their animal control killing policies. Must've been over a hundred down at Jacksons Square later that afternoon! Many, many Hamiltonians signed our petition and helped distribute our flyers! Some even have occasional contact with the Mayor and plan on speaking to him about the HAC policies. :) We must keep spreading the word every chance we get, animal lovers are everywhere! Big thanks to those who are spreading the word daily, to all those who gladly signed the petition and to the tireless efforts of the relentless group of people who care enough to stand up and speak for EVERY animal inside this building! Looking forward to the next great Rally despite the negative narrow-minded views of some who refer to all these caring passionate people as 'over-the-top-jackasses.' ;) Come join us for this much needed exposure and greatly appreciated efforts to change policies! ALL animals deserve a 2nd chance at life! See ya there!"

Sandra Dobson Lovell: "I thought the rally was very successful. We were a small but enthusiastic group and a lot of people were educated about the HAC. I am looking forward to the next one and hope more people can make it."

Eva McDowell: "Thanks to all who made it to the Rally in spite of the QEW/403 being closed. Special thanks to the people of Hamilton who joined us this time. None of the people we spoke to knew about the situation at Hamilton Animal Control and all were very shocked that they don't allow public adoptions and kill 3000 animals every year. Many were eager to sign the petitions. Looking forward to the next one in about a month's time."

Claudia Vecchio: "Yesterday's rally was a great success! Hundreds of people stopped by, appalled to find out that so many animals are being killed, and that the HAC is not even open for adoptions. We heard a lot of complaints from the public about the HAC. Passers-by gave rally attendees as much information in return as we gave them. Many signatures have been added to our petition. One thing is very clear: Hamilton residents demand low cost spay and neuter, and they do NOT want to see their tax dollars being spent on killing animals."





Photographer Suzanne Kelly

Rally Flyers:
http://www.ora-animalsrescue.org/HAC730RALLYdouble.pdf
http://www.ora-animalsrescue.org/HAC730RALLYsingle.pdf

Press:
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/571708--cat-lovers-take-to-the-streets-again
http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/08/02/advocates-rally-to-end-high-kill-rates-at-ontario-shelter/
http://www.facebook.com/HerbivoresAnimalFrequency

Coming up next:
Rally 3 - Date TBA
Hamilton Council Meeting - September 20
Bill Bruce Lecture - September 30

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By ORA Animal Rescue

Life With Cats TV Article


"Hamilton, Ontario’s 2-cat per household law is in the spotlight again; this time advocates are emphatically pushing forward to find a solution that will end animal service’s dramatically high euthanasia rates."

Monday, August 1, 2011

Interviews with Eva McDowell, Christina Beltrano and Claudia Vecchio


"Animal Rights activists held another protest at Hamilton City Hall on Saturday morning calling for a change in the city's by-laws that limit the number of pets to only two per household and ban roaming cats which they believe lead to cats being trapped and killed." 


By Molly Hayes, TheSpec