95-1103Council File # - 11 �3
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Presented
Referred To
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1 WIIEREAS, animal pounds and shelters were designed to serve as sazactuaries for lost or abandoned pets; and
2 WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul's goal for lost and abandoned animals should be to unite the animal with their
3 original owner or a caring, responsible pet owner; and
4 WI�EREAS, the City has taken proactive measures to decrease the number of abandoned and lost auimals, including
5 the new policy on micro-chip identification; now, therefore
6 BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Saint Paul that the city will discontinue its policy of releasing
7 abandoned pets for animal reseazch and will continue its policy of euthanizing of pets that aze not reunited with the
8 owners or adopted.
Requested 6y Department of:
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Form Approved by City Attomey
.J By:
Adoprion Certified by Council Secretary Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
By: By:
Approved by Mayor:
By: 4
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Adopted by Council: Date ��_ �, � ,� qs
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Councii
Councilmember Mike Harris (68630)
TOTAL # OF SIGNATURE PAGES
"E INITIATED N � � 7 � V �
9-13-95 GREEN SHEET
1NRIAUDATE INITIAVDA7E
� DEPARTMENT DIflECTOR � CITY COUNGL
SIGN � CITYATTORNEY � CI7V CLERK
MBER FOfi
NTNG � BU9�iET �IRECTOR � FIN. & MGL SERVICES DIR.
IOER � MAYOR (OR ASS15TAN'� �
P ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE)
A resolution caliing for the City of Saint Paul to discontinue iu policy of releasing abandoned pets for animal reseazch and m coutinue
its policy of euthanizing pets that aze not reunited with the owners or adopted.
__ PLANNING COMMISSION s CIVIL SERVICE
_ CIB COMMITTEE _
_ STAFF _
_ DISTflILTCOURT _
SUPPORTS WHICH GOUNCII O&IEGTIVH
PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS MUS7 ANSWER THE FOLLOWING �UESTfONS:
1. Has this p¢rsonttirm ever worked under a contrect for this tlepartment�
YES NO
2. Has this persondirm ever been a ciry employee?
YES NO
3. Does thi5 personttirm possess a skill not normally possessed by any current ciry employee?
YES NO
Explain all yes answers on separate sheet antl ettach to green shee[
INITIATING PROBLEM, ISSUE, OPPORiUN1TV (Who. What, When, Where, Why�.
Growing concem among 5aint Paul residents and pet owners about the Cizy's practice of releasing pets to institurions that conduct animal
reseazch.
ADVANTAGES
The City of Saint Paul would demonstrate a commitment to reuniting lost and abandoned pets with their owners or other cazing,
responsible pet owners.
The Ciry would not be in compliance with State law.
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Af" � �JY�
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The City of Saint Paul would continue to act in conflict with its goal of reuniting lost pets with their owners amd placing abandoned pets
with caring, responsible pet owners.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF TRANSACTION $
FUNDi1dG SOURCE
FINANGIAL INfORMATION� (EXP�AIN)
COST/REVENUE BUDGETED (CIRCLE ONE) YES NO
NUMBER
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Interdepartmental Memorandum
CITY OF SAII�1T PAUL
'°" " . �' 9 '��
OCT C ° '�995
TO: Council President Dave Thune
Councilmember Jerry Blakey
Councilmember Marie Grimm
Councilmember Dino Guerin
Councilmembex Mike Harris
Counciimember Bobbi Megard
Councilmember Janice Reriman
FROM: Mayor Norm Coleman �p /t �^r^
DATE: October 5, 1995
RE: Councfl File 95-1103--Discontinuing the City of Saint Paul's Policy of
Releasing Lost or Abandoned Pets for Animal Research
This memorandum is to inform you that I am returning the attached Council File
95-I 103--unsigned.
As a former State Prosecutor, I cannot in good conscious, condone selective obedience
of state laws. Nor, can I instruct city officials to blatantlp disregard them.
Minnesota Statue 35.71 commonly known as the Pound Seizure Law, has generated
considerable debate and discussion over the years. In 1989, the Saint Paul CiTy
Council passed resolution 89-501 setting notice requirements among others, in the
implementation of this law. It also urged the Minnesota State Legislature to amend the
Statue to prevent the release of stray animals to research labaratories.
5ince this is a state 1aw, the proper focus of this debate is at the state Ievel. This issue
will be a part of the City's 1996 Legislative Package. Council File 95-1103 will be a
statement of the Saint Paul City Council's public intent and public policy.
While I concur with the goal of reuniting lost or abandoned pets with their owners, or
other caring responsible owners, this must be done witlun the bounds of the law. I
appreciate your continued participation in this matter.
cc: City Clerk
° IS-ti1o3
ST. PAUL CITY COUPICIL RESOLUTION ON BANNING RELEASE OF POiIND ANIMALS
Hello, Thank you for the opportunity to address the Council. I am Cynthia
Gillett, Veterinarian and Interim Director of Research Animal Resources at
the University of Minnesota. I have been a resident of St. Paul for eight
years. -
I want to say that I understand the concerns of pet owners on this issue.
The University has absolutely no desire to use anyone's lost pet. The
city, the pound, the humane societies, the animal rights groups, the
University, and all animal lovers need to work together to make it easier
for people to find a beloved pet which has gotten loose or otherwise been
lost; THAT would be a real public service. The University only wishes to
purchase those animals for which the pound has been unable to find either
its owners or a new home. The University only wishes to buy animals whicri
the pound has desiqnated for euthanasia because there is no other choice
for that animal. with that in mind, if a wanted pet does get sold to the
University before its owner has contacted the pound looking for it - as was
the case with Mr. Christian Laettner's dog - the fact that the University
holds that animal an additional 5 days minimum and often longer, means that
its owner has additional time to find it. Mr. Laettner qot his dog back;
that wouldn't have happened if the city had banned the release of pound
animals to the University. We hope that every owner who has lost their pet
can be reunited with it.
But the fact of the matter is that many of these pound animals are not
wanted pets. fihey are strays, abandoned animals, or animals brought to the
pound because their owners no longer wanted them. The University's
purchase of these animals actually conserves animal life. If you ban the
release of these unwanted pound animals, the University will most likely
have to purchase another animal in its place and then two dogs or cats will
be euthanized instead of one.
How are these animals used by the University? Animals which are obtained
from the pound are only used in short, one day procedures wriich most often
involve the induction of anesthesia, just like your pet would get at your
veterinarian's clinic, followed by a study period, after which the animal
is euthanized without ever having awakened from the initial anesthesia.
If you believe that animal research is worthless, that the multitude of
medical advances in both human and veterinary medicine that have come about
as a result of animal research should never have happened, that being used
in carefully regulated research activities is a fate worse than death, then
you should pass this resolution. If on the other hand, you and your loved
ones have benefited from modern medical procedures or expect to need
medical or veterinary care in the future, if you respect animal life and
wish to conserve it, you should vote against this resolution.
Phank you for the opportunity to address the Council. I would be happy to
�nswer any questions you may have.
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Cynthia S. Gillett, DVM, Interim Director
Researc2l Animal Resources
Box 351 UNkiC
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455
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612-624-4625 phone
612-625-7632 fax
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UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
Twirs Cities Campus
September 26, 1995
To The 5t. Paul City Council:
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Cardiovascular Divirion
Depamrzent af Medicirze
Medical Schnot
Bos 508
420I7efaware Street S.E.
Minrseapalis, MN 55455
Fax.� 612-626-4411
(612J 625-5646
I write to urge you not to resaict access to pound dogs for our University research pragram
We have a long uadition of very important a�im� research that has 2ed to new theragies for
heart disease. These new approaches would not have been possible without a source of animals
that can pazdcipate in a humane way in these vital research programs.
I know much publicity has been given to what has appeared in the past to be shabby treaanent
of research anunals. As in all areas of endeavor not everyone adheres to the high standards atl
of us crave. We have worked hard ac the Universicy to upgrade our investigative approaches so
that all procedures are carried ou[ in the most humane way possible. In my own laboratories,
for instance, the attendon and love given to the dogs under our care probably surpass that which
they experienced during their prior life. Procedures, when required, are carried out with
adequate sedation. Dogs that remain in our program become like pets to our staff. It is hard to
envision that those dogs would have been better being euthanized in the pound than having been
provided to us for this type of reseazch. They make a societal contriburion and are rewarded
with a longer and lazgely enjoyable life.
On the other hand some pound dogs are involved only in acute experiments. T'hey are
anesthetized and then euthanized after collection of valuable data that can have an important
impact an human disease. It seems highly wasteful to society to deprive the researchers of this
source of important informarion when the dog dces not suffer as a result of the experiment
Some have claimed that animal research is not necessary, ihat compnters can replace animal
studies in the investigadon of disease. I can assure you that biological processes remain so
mysterious that continued animai studies, particulaziy using our new te�hnologies, remain a
crirical component of our research effort. The recognidon of new chemical substances in the
body and of new and complex mechanisms has, in fact, increased the need for studying
phenomena in animais. Although we have increasingly ualized purpose-bred dogs in our
studies, the cost of these animals and their discomfort with human companionship make them
expensive and often unsuitable substitntes for pound animais.
We all respect animals and their rights. They have not chosen to be euthanized in the pound any
more than they have chosen to participate in research. In the interest of our vital research efforts
and the conrinued growth of knowiedge about human disease, I urge you to allow pound dogs
to condnue to be used in our program. I speak for ali our investigators in assuring you of our
ongoing vigilance to maintain the highest standazds of humane treatment.
Sincerely,
Jay N. Cohn, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Aead, Cardiovasculaz Division
JNC:ncl
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ETHEL M. MEININGER
1925 4lorcester Avenue
St. Paul MN 55116-2614
Phone (6?2) 699-5767
RE; USE OF POUND ANIMALS
I am Ethei M. Meininger and live at 1925 �Aorcester
Ave., St. Paul MN 55116. I am a member of the national and
Minnesota branch of American Association for Laboratory
Animal Science and Laboratory Animai Management Association.
I worked in the field of inedical research for fourteen years
at the University of Minnesota and have a degree in Animal
Science.
I oppose any ordinance that wi11 prevent animals from
the St. Paul Pound being released for medical research
purpose. There are Minnesota laws a�d Federal laws
that state pound animals are to he availahle for research
subject to the conditions of Che A�imal �delfare Act of 1966
revised 1988, The Animal Welfare Act is enforced by APHIS
(Animal Plant Health Inspection Service of the US Department
of Agriculture).
The Animal Welfare Act states a pound must holdd an
animal for 5 days then the animal can be released to a
research facility, sold to a Class B animal dealer, or
euthanasia. Those animals staying at the pound for 5 days
usually can be attributed to the first three letters of
management. Animals without collars or ID often occur be-
cause man taking off the collar and not putting the collar
back on, or a �ollar being out on too loose. Qther pound
animals are there 6ecause man is not o6eying th= license,
lease laws and/or keeping track ofi their animal. A con-
scientious pet owner, or their agen±, wi�l know in less
than 24 hours if an animal is missing and have another 4
deys to locate and identify the missing pet. Researchers
do not intentionally use animal that are oets being sought
by their friends, but I'll admit it can happen.
Animals / Pets in the first 5 days the pound must try to
identify and contact the owner before releasing the animal.
After 5 days the pou�d may release the animal to a Class B
dealer, and held for the Class B dealzr. After a specified
number of days the Class B dealer ca❑ sell the animai to a
research facility for the going price which the dealer names.
Because of the cut backs in the Federal budget the USDA has
difficulty in checking all facilities as to compliance to the
Animal Welfare Act.
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Animals from tfie St. gaul Pound not claimed by owners,
or sold to public or Class B dealers, can or must be subject
to euthanasia at the pound facility. This also means that
besides tfie animal at the pound heing kiiled another animal
from a dealer costing 2 to 10 times as much will 6e used in
the research. A large percentage of a state university
research cost is grants funded by federal and state taxes.
For animals used in. medical research the standards are
set by using the standards used for the procedure on a human.
Some animals are used to study medical devices; the hlood of
others is used to prime machines so surgery can be preformed
on another animal. All procedures involving pain the animal
must be given anesthetic.
The animals in a research facility receive good care
and more love ±han many animals called pets. I speak
professionally as a person who has been in the animaT
operating room, and has cared for the animals after surgery.
I have written the protocol for animal research, and taught
or assisted researchers with their animal research project.
Personally I feel any person not supportive of the use
of animals in research should not take any medication
because a11 medications at some time have been used on
animals in their testing process. Animals have contributed
to all medical knowiedge used today.
Thank you for your time.
ETHEL M. MEININBER
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