Jody Jones named new Division Manager at Dallas Animal Services

Yesterday, the City of Dallas announced Jody Jones as the new Division Manager over Dallas Animal Services.   Jody has been the Division Manager at Richmond Animal Care & Control in Richmond, Virginia for the last seven years.  Prior to that, she served as the Director of Animal Care & Control of New York City.  She is a member of the Virginia Federation of Human Societies and a faculty member of the American Prosecuting Attorneys Association for the Committee on Animal Law.

According to this Examiner.com article, Richmond Animal Care & Control “enjoys the assistance of a large volunteer program, places an emphasis on education and outreach, and each year publishes their statistical outcomes on their website.  Since 2006, not a single healthy homeless pet has been euthanized in Richmond, thanks to a program developed by the Richmond SPCA in cooperation with Richmond Animal Care & Control.  With the help of the Association for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Richmond program has become a model for communities across the country.”

Read more on Examiner.com: Jody Jones named new manager at Dallas Animal Services – Dallas animal rescue | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/animal-rescue-in-dallas/jody-jones-named-new-manager-named-at-dallas-animal-services#ixzz1N0SgZVOw

Kunkle/Rawlings headed for runoff; Natinsky out

The runoff between Rawlings and Kunkle takes place June 18th.

From the Dallas County Elections website:

		Percent	Votes
Mike Rawlings		40.87%	28,419
David Kunkle		31.95%	22,214
Ron Natinsky		25.06%	17,428
E. Edward Okpa, II		2.12%	1,474
			69,535

They’ve put up an interesting map as well showing which precincts voted for which candidate.

It’s time to say THANK YOU to Lieutenant Walton

Do you appreciate all that Dallas Police Lieutenant Scott Walton has done for Dallas Animal Services and animals in Dallas over the last 8 months (and frankly if you don’t, you really should!)?  Have you forgotten he volunteered to take on the beleaguered department after the acting manager was indicted for animal cruelty following the death of a cat left trapped in a wall at the shelter?  Did you know that in just the last 8 months at DAS, adoptions are up, rescues are up, euthanasia is down, and compassion is the word of the day?

Did you know that Dallas Animal Services expects to announce a new manager in the next few weeks and the beloved Lieutenant will return to DPD?

Won’t you please take advantage of  this one last chance to let him know how much you care by attending the Real Men Care Event on Sunday?

REAL MEN CARE benefits Metroplex Animal Coalition and Dallas Animal Adovcates

Sunday, May 15th, 6:00 p.m., Sambucca Restaurant, Dallas

Honorees:  Lieutenant Scott Walton, J.P. Bonnelly, Richard (Dick) Hunter, and Robert Hayden

Tickets: $65 available online now – or $75 at the door – includes two free drink tickets, free appetizers courtesy Sambucca, photo opportunities, “Real Men” tatoos, a fabulous silent auction, shopping, meeting, mingling and more!

All the information you need can be found on the website HERE.   Don’t wait!  Get your tickets now!

Is “unethics” even a word?

Whether it is or isn’t, unethical definitely is.

Jim Schutze’s coverage of recent machinations on the Dallas City Council makes for an interesting read, and articles like this kinda make a critter wonder how far the Dallas City Council will go to get one of their own elected.

It’s an interesting timeline, to say the least:

• The City Council voted two weeks ago to greatly expand the ability of lobbyists and developers to give them campaign contributions.
• Early voting in the Mayoral race starts today, with the election on May 14th
• Now, apparently, the City Council may revisit its vote weakening the ethics rules on donations to city council members, with a call for a hearing on unethics next week.

Just sayin’…

Early voting starts today and your vote matters

Early voting starts today.  The beauty in voting early is the lines are shorter, you can go any day and any time, you can go to any polling place, and you don’t have to have a reason to vote early.

Early voting hours make it easy for anyone to find time to vote.  Polls are open this Monday thru Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and then Monday and Tuesday of next week (5/9 and 5/10) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting locations are plentiful, making voting a snap from home, from work, or from school.  A complete list of polling places can be found on the Dallas County Elections webstie. http://www.dalcoelections.org/may142011/EVLocations.htm

If you’re concerned about Dallas’ animals and wish the City Council paid more attention to animal issues and the problems at Dallas Animal Services, the most important thing you can do is vote to elect a Mayor that is animal-friendly.

What about the Dallas City Council?  Keep in mind the three City Council members who voted AGAINST spay/neuter were Angela Hunt, Sheffie Kadane, and Ron Natinsky.  Your vote matters.

Kunkle campaign looking for pet lovers (and dogs!) to help out – *Free Tshirt!*

David Kunkle’s campaign is looking for nearly 200 volunteers (with their dogs!) to help out on election day.  He’s the only candidate for Dallas Mayor that is animal welfare friendly,  the only one with a position statement on animal welfare on his website (http://davidkunkle.com/issue-dallas-animal-shelter-and-no-kill-equation), the only one with rescued pets (Natinsky and Rawlings both bought their dogs from breeders and support the industry), and the only one fully committed to making Dallas Animal Services a priority.

All you have to do is hang out at your polling place with (or without) your dogs and talk to anyone that comes up.  You do not have to be a Dallas resident to volunteer.  There’s a free t-shirt in it for you, too (while supplies last)!

For more information: http://davidkunkle.com/sign-work-polls-election-day-and-help-david-win-election

Mr. Natinsky’s track record on pet related issues doesn’t suggest the kind of leadership we need

Throughout history, some of our country’s best and brightest have shared a singular guiding principle when it comes to leadership – surround yourself with good people and let them do what they do best.   That’s the kind of leadership we need for Dallas.  True leadership.

Did you know that Ron Natinsky’s original representative to the Animal Shelter Commission was the well-known local animal welfare supporter and attorney Skip Trimble?  But during the battle over the spay/neuter ordinance, Mr. Natinsky sided with the breeders.  The ordinance passed, of course, but within months Mr. Trimble’s term on the Commission was up for renewal and Mr. Natinsky replaced the popular Commission Chairman with a breeder of Pekingnese dogs with little experience in sheltering, rescue, or animal welfare. Retaliation?  It would seem.  We’re all fortunate that Carolyn Davis realized what a huge mistake that was and immediately rectified it, appointing Mr. Trimble to another term as Chair of the Commission. Is that leadership?

Then last March, the Dallas City Council passed a new ordinance that threatens a $500 fine for people who keep a lost animal without trying to find the rightful owner.  The Animal Shelter Commission only found out about it from the media after it had passed.  Mr. Natinsky had worked quietly with Code Compliance and the City Attorney’s office to draw up the new law,  According to some reports he intentionally by-passed the Animal Shelter Commmission – something many on the City Council weren’t aware of when they voted.  So why all the secrecy?  Why pass an unnecessary ordinance with so many unexpected consequences at all?  At the MAC Mayoral Forum a few weeks ago, Mr. Natinsky said the ordinance was put in place because one resident was coming to the council meetings each week taking up valuable time complaining about his dogs who were stolen in 2007.  Is that leadership?

Mr. Natinsky may claim to be a friend to animals, but let’s be clear about which side he is on: His personal pets – like Mr. Rawlings’ – were purchased from breeders.  Combine that with what, on the surface at least, seems shady politics at best, and perhaps the choice for Dallas next Mayor becomes a lot clearer for those concerned about the welfare of animals.