CFA Board of Directors Meeting
October 2002
Last Updated: January 31 2003
CFA Legislative Committee News - Fall 2002
At the October Board meeting, Joan Miller, CFA Legislative Committee Chair,
received Board approval for CFA to join the American Partnership for Pets (APP),
an organization formed in the wake of the successful campaign to have
spay/neuter postage stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. The stamps feature
a puppy and a kitten and the message, "Spay/Neuter". APP plans future programs
to raise public awareness of the various problems related to homeless cats and
dogs and to fund research projects.
Among the APP membership of more than 25 organizations there are some with
extreme animal rights goals contrary to those of cat fanciers. Other members,
such as the American Veterinary Medial Association, Alley Cat Allies and the
National Animal Control Association, are more moderate or aligned with our
interests. CFA, as a member of APP will be able to provide input and have some
opportunity to influence the developing direction of this Partnership.
Lynn Thompson, of Florida, has been named Fundraiser for the Sy Howard
Legislative Fund. The fund matches money raised to aid in addressing legislative
challenges or to advance alternatives to legislation detrimental to CFA and the
breeding of pedigreed cats. Examples are CFA's participation in the National
Council for Pet Population Study and Policy, Pet Night on Capitol Hill,
sponsorship of a state legislative workshop, an educational video,
advertisements and other vital grass roots action tools. Lynn will encourage
donations and also assist clubs in preparing their requests for project funding.
CFA again was an affiliate sponsor for the Animal Health Institute's Pet Night
on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, September 17, 2002. Joan Miller, Tom Dent,
Michael Brim and several local cat fanciers represented CFA at this important
event attended by almost 900 members of Congress, their spouses and staff
members, veterinary, pharmaceutical and pet industry representatives. This
year's celebrity pets were the stars from two blockbuster movies and guests were
photographed with the shaded silver Persian who played "Snowbell" in Stuart
Little II and the Pug dog, "Mushu," who played "Frank the Pug" in Men in Black
II.
Prior to Pet Night, Joan, Tom and Michael joined with representatives of the
AKC, PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council) and APPMA (American Pet
Products Manufacturing Association) for an annual ad-hoc legislative meeting to
discuss federal and other legislative matters of mutual interest. Another full
day was devoted to a preliminary facilitated meeting with a Washington
communications strategy firm. The purpose was to define the legislative
challenges we mutually face and to determine the feasibility of a coordinated
long-range plan to raise awareness of legislators, community leaders and the
public for our views concerning legislation, the value of pedigreed cat/purebred
dog breeding and of pet ownership in general,.
The Board was updated on the recently announced Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Department of Transportation (DOT) Proposed Rules regarding airline
reporting of incidents involving the loss, injury or death of animals during air
transport. We are in the process of analyzing the language presented and have
requested a 60-day extension beyond the 30-day period announced. Updates and
ALERTS will be on the Exhibitors Corner of the CFA web site.
Submitted by Joan Miller, Chair, CFA Legislative Committee
JmillerArt@aol.com
707-427-1807
|
