HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 3BLate9 10/19/2009L~ 3~
From: Angelique Fry [angelique@divinedelights.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 4:51 PM
To: -City Clerk
Subject: Late document
Attachments: Pet Council 10.19.09.doc
Claire/ Deborah,
Would you please post the attached as a late document for Item 3 B. (Council meeting 10.19.09)
Thank you,
Angelique Fry
October 15,2009
Re: Pot Bellied Pig Ordinance
Dear Council Members,
I am asking you to reconsider the following
1). Accept the Animal Advisory Committee's recommendation of an aggregate of dogs and pot
bellied pigs not to exceed four per household, and strike the proposed limit of 2 pigs per
household.
2). Reclassify pot bellied pigs from swine and hogs. Please grant these nationally recognized
household pets the same rights and considerations as all other Petaluma pets enjoy.
The following is my letter to the editor published in today' addition of the Argus Courier:
Dear Editor,
For animal related issues I think it would be very helpful in the future to streamline the process by
creating a real Animal Advisory Committee that reports directly to council and is televised on
PCA. For a citizen to request changes to the animal code or have any kind. of input in the process
is a real challenge; to almost impossible. My experience with the Pot Bellied Pig ordinance
revealed to me that there is very little transparency in our city government. After 2 plus years of
an anxiety ridden roller-coaster ride I was very disappointed at Monday's meeting that many
council members were uninformed and/or disinterested in what was before them. Pot Bellies have
lived in the city for over two decades and compare more favorably to many dogs. They do not
bark, bite, climb, are cleaner than dogs and cats, have no dander or fleas and are prey animals
vs.. predator i.e.; cats and dogs. The city attorney was completely out of his element and passed
on to council erroneous information. I don't think anyone gave a flying leap! Our progressively
minded mayor had a golden opportunity to at least classify Pot Bellies differently from livestock
but she backed down. While this ordinance is an improvement over it's.predecessor it fell short.
Maybe some day this town will get it right but it will cost more money, time, and energy I
guarantee it. The next wave of pet pig ownership on the horizon will be the "Teacup" pig. I'm
grateful that my family now lives-safely out of city limits! Perhaps the best way to fight city hall is
to move.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Angelique ,Fry
777 Liberty Rd
Petaluma