| It's a man's sympathy with all creatures that truly | | | | and asked a lot of questions. They then felt that |
| makes him a man. Until he extends his circle of | | | | appointing a DAW to their Council would be |
| compassion to all living things, man himself will not | | | | mutually beneficial. A city on the verge of |
| find peace. | | | | revitalization, Reseda has made Emergency |
| These words spoken decades ago by Albert | | | | Preparedness a priority and hopes to furnish a |
| Schweitzer ring true to a special group of | | | | van with all the supplies their community will need |
| dedicated and caring Los Angelenos. Appointed to | | | | in the event of the "big one." Community |
| be the eyes and ears of those who can not | | | | members will be CERT (Certified Emergency |
| speak for themselves, The Directors of Animal | | | | Rescue Team) trained and preparations will be |
| Welfare (DAWs) work with their Neighborhood | | | | made for their animals as well. Woodward feels |
| Councils to tackle problems, initiate proposals and | | | | "the Katrina Disaster showed us the best and |
| hold events aimed at solving problems or creating | | | | worst," and she hopes that Los Angelenos will |
| awareness on issues that help humans and | | | | learn from it and be prepared - for themselves |
| animals live together harmoniously. In 1999, the | | | | and for their animals. |
| new L.A. City Charter divided Los Angeles into 90 | | | | Kris Kelly, DAW for Beverly Hills and Pacific |
| geographic areas and a Neighborhood Council was | | | | Palisades, feels the program's biggest |
| empowered in each to represent its respective | | | | accomplishment to date is the relationship formed |
| neighborhoods. | | | | with Ed Boks. "I think Mr. Boks and his |
| In October 2004, Valley Glen Council member Dr. | | | | department no longer feel alienated by the animal |
| Charlotte Laws introduced the idea of appointing a | | | | community. We're working together for all of Los |
| representative to each Neighborhood Council to | | | | Angeles." The DAW Animal Abuse Committee, |
| handle animal-related issues. The Director of | | | | which Kelly chairs, was recently asked to join with |
| Animal Welfare program was part of her proposal | | | | the new Los Angeles Animal Cruelty Task Force |
| to make Los Angeles a No-Kill City. With | | | | to share ideas and achieve goals. According to |
| approximately 40,000 dogs, cats and small animals | | | | Kelly, "The only way we are truly going to make |
| euthanized in L.A. annually at a cost of $14 million, | | | | L.A. a no-kill city is by joining hands, not fighting |
| it is a crisis in need of resolution. Valley Glen, won | | | | with each other." Differing groups have varying |
| over by Dr. Laws' enthusiasm and good ideas, | | | | approaches but their goals are the same, so the |
| promptly appointed her to the position for their | | | | DAW Program is serving as a unifying conduit to |
| area. Additionally, Laws proposed the formation of | | | | make things happen -- a sort of "United Nations" |
| a California Animal Commission. Comprised of | | | | of Animal Welfare. |
| non-paid individuals committed to animal welfare, | | | | Case in point: The combined efforts of several |
| the Commission would serve in an advisory | | | | DAWs, the West Hollywood Neighborhood Council |
| capacity to help cities and counties achieve the | | | | and the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department |
| no-kill goal at their public shelters. According to | | | | recently arrested a puppy dealer who was |
| Laws, "This would be an important first step | | | | abusing underage puppies. This criminal now lives in |
| towards ending the needless killing of tens of | | | | a cell far roomier than the animals housed in our |
| thousands of animals each year." If formed, | | | | City & County Shelters, but at least he is |
| California would be the first to have such a | | | | unable to hurt any more dogs -- at least for the |
| Commission and would lead the nation by | | | | time being. |
| recognizing the plight of its animals. | | | | Atwater Village, situated near the Los Angeles |
| In Los Angeles County there are 2.6 million dogs | | | | River, has long been a dumping ground for |
| & cats in private homes, so helping them | | | | unwanted pets, so its five DAWs organized a |
| peacefully cohabitate with humans makes good | | | | monthly Pet Adoption Fair at the Farmer's Market |
| sense. Recently Ed Boks, General Manager of the | | | | on Glendale Blvd. Additionally, the group educates |
| L.A. Department of Animal Services (LAAS), | | | | residents who are unaware of leash and chain |
| wrote a letter to all 90 Neighborhood Councils | | | | laws. According to Beatrice Shapiro, "Any resident |
| encouraging them to support the DAW Program | | | | violating a leash law is first given information on |
| and select a stakeholder as their representative. | | | | the rules and best ways to contain their pets. On |
| Currently 35 DAWs have been appointed, so the | | | | a second offense, the resident is given a |
| program is still looking for more individuals to get | | | | courtesy notice with the offending Municipal Code |
| involved. With eleven committees, there is | | | | attached. If this doesn't get the message across, |
| something for everyone, from Spay/Neuter | | | | Animal Control is contacted regarding the |
| Education to the Elephant exhibit issues at the L.A. | | | | violation." |
| Zoo; from disaster preparedness plans, to horse | | | | Over in Lake Balboa, Lisa Reveen is busy on an |
| trails to animal cruelty cases. | | | | avian cause. "A well-meaning lady arrives each |
| According to Burbank DAW George Shea, "The | | | | morning to feed the birds, but her good intentions |
| value of the DAW Program is simply that if you're | | | | have led to chaos for all," Reveen explains. |
| into animal [issues], you can feel isolated - a bunch | | | | "Commuters cut through the park to avoid the |
| of separate groups not knowing what each other | | | | main roads and since there are no speed bumps |
| is doing and with no real clout behind us. Becoming | | | | or visible stop signs, they do so at high rates of |
| a DAW has brought it all together for me...I'm not | | | | speed. The ducks, geese and other species of |
| alone in my struggles; we exchange ideas and | | | | birds, now dependent on their morning feeding, |
| support each others goals." | | | | are no longer mindful of the cars, dogs or people |
| Reseda DAW Missy Woodward was already | | | | who mean them harm and are losing their lives in |
| active in her Neighborhood Council before being | | | | alarming numbers." Reveen is asking for speed |
| appointed its Director of Animal Welfare. Her | | | | bumps and stop signs, as well as visible law |
| Council took their time, listened to Woodward | | | | enforcement to slow down traffic and prevent |
| speak, had their President attend a DAW Meeting | | | | people from feeding the wildlife. |