BRENDA BARNETTE'S LICENSING PROGRAM DOESN'T ADD UP--DO THE MATH

SOMEONE BUY THIS WOMAN A CALCULATOR, PLEASE!!
You don't have to be an expert in math to realize that if this is Breeder Barnette and Sleazy Salazar's idea of a sustainable dog licensing program, the Mayor better bring in some of his school kids to help them out. Barnette is bragging that it only took five days (Wed. to Sun.) and 21 Animal Control Officers (taken off their humane investigations or paid OT) to get 314 dog licenses.

I'm a business owner and when I add that up, that averages about THREE (3) licenses a day per officer. That part doesn't surprise me. You send out uniformed officers in the middle of the day during the week and on weekends and most people aren't home. And if they are, why would they open their doors since there was no big media blitz saying that real live LAAS officers would be in THEIR neighborhood. Oh, there was that "Action Alert" (AA) by BB. I almost forgot because it was so unimpressive. More on that later, so read all the way to the end. Back to the licenses, here's how I figure it, City Council and CAO. .

21 officers x 8 hours ea = 168 hours

168 hours x $28.00 (averaging salaries for ACO 1) = $4,704.00 (Some may be ACO II's -

but I'm being fair and providing the lowest possible.)

If only six officers were on OT for 16 hours (Sat & Sun), that would be 96 hours @ $42/hr.

So, let's deduct (168 minus 96 hrs., which leaves )

72 hrs @ $28.00 = $2,016

96 hrs. @ $ 42.00 = +$4,032

TOTAL (cost for FIELD ACO'S) $6,048 (plus benefits + PLUS admin staff/clerical time)

TOTAL (Lic. Revenue) = $20 X 314 = $6,280

OUCH, I FIGURE WE'RE IN THE HOLE. BUT I GUESS IF YOU'RE BB AND MS, YOU MIGHT SAY WE MADE $232.00.

So with an annual budget of about $18 million.....wow, my math isn't good enough to figure how long it would take to make a dent in that at $232.00 per week. You do the math. Then figure how many dogs were left on the streets while the ACO's were chasing licenses and how much more overtime will be paid to take up the slack.

But this wasn't really legitimate because here's how BB and MS set it up--did they require rabies certificates? NO Did they require spay/neuter certificates? Hell, NO!! Here was the first BB MS Plan. THE ONLY REASON A LOCAL JURISDICTION IS ALLOWED TO SELL LICENSES AND COLLECT A FEE IS TO VERIFY THAT A PARTICULAR ANIMAL HAS A VALID RABIES INOCULATION. OTHERWISE, THE LICENSE COST WOULD BE A "TAX" ON OWNERSHIP. TAXES CANNOT JUST BE ARBITRARILY APPLIED JUST TO BRING IN REVENUE. THEY HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.

The first time out last week, flunky DFO Mark Salazar and Breeder Barnette showed their disregard for city and state law and their disinterest in public health and safety and the health of animals. Their first order instructed the ACO's to collect $20 and issue a license with a tinfoil star pasted on it if the dog (1) didn't have a current rabies shot and/or (2) whether or not it was spayed or neutered. This meant it was a license that wasn't really a license because it wasn't valid, huh??

OK, now I got it. This is to build up the count of licenses issued to try to save Barnette's posterior from an a**whooping by CC because dog licenses are down so far since she's been in L.A. . The tinfoil star means that the license is not valid until the rabies shot is given or the dog is altered. There is no plan for the follow-up to assure these are done, of course, because LAAS doesn't have that many officers and it really isn't at all about the animals or the safety of the public or spay/neuter to cut down pet overpopulation and shelter impounds. It is all about Brenda and making her look like she has a plan! If this was put together by Chief Flunky Salazar, BB, you are in deep doo doo!

Now, here's the AA (Action Alert) by BB about licensing. I don't know who gets her News Releases, Action Alerts, etc. Don't see the media breathlessly waiting for BB to send them the news of the day.

But here's the Action Alert we're talking about. It's not all posted but we're concerned about what it DIDN'T say. Something of prime importance was missing. (Clue: It's what stops shelters from overcrowding and lowers euthanasia.)

ACTION ALERT

April 7, 2011

Contact: Brenda F. Barnette, General Manager

Get Your Dog License NOW!

Humane Officers are canvassing Los Angeles City neighborhoods checking for current dog licenses. (Wrong, BB, we don't have Humane Officers in L.A. Your employees are Animal Control Officers.)

If you have a dog that is not yet licensed or who has a license that has expired, you can visit one of the six shelters near you or renew online at:

Fees:Spayed or Neutered: $20.00 and proof of rabies vaccination.

Not Spayed or Neutered (if qualified): $100 plus breeder’s fee of $235.

* * *

An animal rescuer wrote to Ms. BB:

Dear Brenda,

I think it’s a big mistake to list these as if they are equally available options:

Fees:Spayed or Neutered: $20.00 and proof of rabies vaccination.

Not Spayed or Neutered (if qualified): $100 plus breeder’s fee of $235.

Moreover, you did not say anything in the press release to bring more awareness of the city’s spay/neuter ordinance. This would have been a perfect opportunity to remind people (or inform those who are not aware of) the importance of spay/neuter. In fact, it should be a part of the LAAS boilerplate.

Do you not agree?

******************************************

HERE'S BB'S RESPONSE:

This is not our only opportunity to get the word out. We'll consider your input when we do another release on this topic.

Brenda

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Activist wrote back -

Hello, Brenda,

Of course this is not the ONLY opportunity, but this was certainly ONE opportunity which LAAS could have used. Thank you for incorporating it in the future because spay/neuter is the KEY to reducing the killing.

Yet, the very next Action Alert also again fails to mention spay/neuter. AH, HOW NICE IT WOULD BE, IF THE GM COULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT WITHOUT BEING TOLD!! Then again what do you expect from a die hard breeder aka AKC legislative rep?