October 14, 2011
UPDATE January 13, 2012: Flower Mound Place Four Councilmember and Deputy Pro Tem sent an email to me that reads: “Alva, You wrote me a few months ago about supporting an ordinance prohibiting “puppies as prizes” in Flower Mound. I just wanted to let you know that the ordinance is coming before the Town Council Thursday, January 19, 2012, at 6:00 at Town Hall. The item is posted as a Public hearing, so people will be allowed to speak on this item. I hope you will attend.
Thanks,
Steve Lyda”
The meeting will be held at Town Hall, 2121 Cross Timbers Road, Flower Mound, TX (map). If you can not attend, please let Deputy Pro Tem Lyda know how much you appreciate his support of the animals in Flower Mound: place4@flower-mound.com
A screenshot of an image taken from the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce Fiesta Live promotional video on youtube.com
The Humane Society of Flower Mound reports the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce plans to auction off a puppy for their Fiesta Live event Saturday, Ocotber 15, 2011. I found this very hard to believe, but I went in research and as their event promotional video clearly shows at minute 1:14, a puppy is indeed shown as a sample of what they will have available for auction.
I am sickened. What a deplorable practice. Does the Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce truly consider the auction of a live puppy a good and ethical business practice?
As the Humane Society of Flower Mound clearly points out in the post on their Facebook Page, a puppy is a lifetime commitment and should not be promoted as an impulse buy. The event promotional video says complimentary wine will be served at each table, so the mix of auction hoopla, drinking, and gambling are not a good combination to help a pet find a loving forever home.
The Humane Society of Flower Mound has asked that people voice their opinion. On their Facebook page, they write, “We also urge residents of Flower Mound to call and write their elected officials on the Town Council and request that Flower Mound adopt an ordinance similar to the one passed by Lewisville, found at http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientid=19957 (Section 3.8).
Please stand in support of the Humane Society of Flower Mound and voice your concern to the Flower Mound Officials; the event is tomorrow night, so now is the time to let your voice be heard.
City of Flower Mound Elected Officials:
Mayor, Melissa D Northern: mayor@flower-mound.com
Place 1 Councilmember, Kendra Stephensen: place1@flower-mound.com
Place 2 Councilmember, Al Filidoro: place2@flower-mound.com
Place 3 Councilmember, Mark Wise: place3@flower-mound.com
Place 4 Councilmember/Mayor ProTem, Steve Lyda: place4@flower-mound.com
Place 5 Councilmember, Tom Haydenn: place5@flower-mound.com
Fiesta Live Event Sponsors:
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound : Barry Howell, Director of Marketing and Business Development, Phone: (469) 322-7085 – Fax: (469) 322-7800 *The Event promotional video shows this group to be the top event sponsor
Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce Officials:
Chairman, Harold E. Shepard: h.shepard@FlowerMoundChamber.com
Vice President, Cindi Howard: C.Howard@FlowerMoundChamber.com
Director of Programs, Kelly Heslep: k.heslep@FlowerMoundChamber.com
Director of Membership, Kathy Beahm: k.beachm@FlowerMoundChamber.com
******* Update from Humane Society of Flower Mound posted on their Facebook Wall just moments ago:
STOP THIS ACT ITS INSANE AND REDICULOUS NOT TO MENTION CRUEL AND HEARTLESS!!!! AS THE OWNER OF FOUR RESCUE DOGS THAT WERE BADLY MISTREATED AND ABUSED AND NEGLECTED I CANNT IMAGINE THAT AUCTIONING OFF A PUPPY IS ETHICAL GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE NOR WILL FIND THESE PRECIOUS BABIES A LOVEING LIFE TIME HOME FOR GODS SAKE ARE YOU STUPID PEOPLE THAT JACKED UP IN THE HEAD THAT YOU WOULD STOOP SO LOW IN BUSINESS AND DESPERATION TO AUCTION OFF A PUPPY ????? WHY NOT AUCTION OFF YOUR CHILDREN OR YOUR HIGH DOLLAR HOUSE AND FANCY CARS AND CLOTHES AND JEWELRY OR BETTER YET GIVE UP SOME OF THOSE OVER PAID PAY CHECKS YOU STUPID HEARTLESS IDIOTS GET!!!! THIS ACTION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAKES ME AS A BUSINESS OWNER NOW WITHDRAW EVER BEING PART OF THE CHAMBER ANYWHERE OR DOING ANY KIND OF WORK IN SUPPORT OF THE CHAMBER YOU PEOPLE ARE SICK AND IGNORANT AND KARMA WILL COME BACK TO GET YOU ALL !!!!! IDIOTS!
SO lets scare the little thing, , take him away from his mother loud music! drunks – yeah nice. How about you do this to your own CHILD! – Its just as cruel – wake up people this is not a TOY
IDIOTS…
unbelievable. What genius thought this was a good idea?
Sounds as bad as our town’s Vol. Fire Dept. raffling a miniature horse. What are these people thinking? I have been researching & can find no law against it here in Texas.
Please stop this! This is insane.
How can you make sure a pet goes to a loving home if all you are wanting to do is have it go to the highest bidder.. Maybe everyone bids low..Just dont see how auctioning to a crowd that is being served wine is gonna be good for the dog…maybe I am missing something.. Please enlighten me.. thks!!
UPDATE FROM CITY OF FLOWER MOUND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER PLACE 4, STEVE LYDA; He states he is going to recommend the implementation of a law that would ban the use of a pet as a prize or fundraiser. Please see discussion below and his statement. Thank you Councilman Lyda – we will be there to support you if you give us the date.
From: Alva L C
Sent: Fri 10/14/2011 12:52 PM
To: Mayor – Melissa Northern; Place1 – Kendra Stephenson; Place2 – Al Filidoro; Place3 – Mark Wise; Place4 – Steve Lyda; Place5 – Tom Hayden; h.shepard@FlowerMoundChamber.com; C.Howard@FlowerMoundChamber.com; k.heslep@FlowerMoundChamber.com;k.beachm@FlowerMoundChamber.com
Subject: Action Needed Immediately
To the elected officials of the City of Flower Mound and the FM Chamber of Commerce,
The auction of a puppy as a fundraising means among drinking, gambling, and live auction hoopla is deplorable and I find it hard to believe that an organization whose mission is to increase local business would employ such a detestable practice. The continuing practice of the auctioning of a puppy at Fiesta Live sheds a very negative light on the Chamber, as well as the entire city for allowing. And you pretty much snub your nose at an eight year Chamber member, the Humane Society of Flower Mound, when you continue to ignore their requests to discontinue this archaic practice.
Every day, animal advocates throughout North Texas work tirelessly to right the wrongs by organizations such as yours. With little regard to the future of this puppy, or it’s origins if you purchased the dog from a puppy mill, you are contributing to the problem. There are so many things wrong with this, and I understand the Humane Society has presented these problems to you already.
Do not call a puppy given as an auction prize the same thing as livestock; that is ignorance speaking.
It can not be said often enough:
“”The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” – Mahatma Gandhi
And I believe God is grieved when we so casually toss around His beloved creation.
I will do no business with any member of the Chamber, or in the city, as long as this practice continues. I do live in the area.
To the Flower Mound elected officials, I respectfully request that you adopt the same legislation that the City of Lewisville that makes it unlawful to use animals as prizes or give-aways. See 3:8: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientid=19957
Sec. 3-8. – Animals as prizes, promotions and novelties.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, exchange, raffle, auction, or give away or offer to sell, exchange, raffle, auction, or give away any live animal as:
(1)
A prize;
(2)
An inducement to enter a place of amusement or a business establishment; or
(3)
An inducement to participate in a charitable fund-raising event.
(Ord. No. 3644-01-2009, § 3, 1-26-09)
Today is Friday, October 14; the auction is tomorrow. You still have time to do the right thing and discontinue the auction of the puppy. I hope you choose to do this, no amount of money raised is worth the negative black eye you give the City of Flower Mound and the Chamber by choosing to ignore the requests of those that speak for the animals.
Alva Logsdon Cranford
PawsitivelyTexas.com . Facebook.com/PawsTexashttp://pawsitivelytexas.com/say-no-to-flower-mound-puppy-auctionhttps://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150885116505393-
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Subject: RE: Action Needed Immediately
From: Place4 – Steve Lyda
To: “Alva L C”
Date: Friday, October 14, 2011, 12:57 PM
Alva,
Fiesta Flower Mound is put on by our Chamber of Commerce…not by the Town. Although the Town is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, we have nothing to do with the planning of this event.
Speaking personally, I have been against the actions of our Chamber of Commerce for several years now. I believe that the Chamber should not host an “exclusive” party, seeing that they are tasked with promoting business into our community. I will not be attending this event.
-Steve
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From: Alva L C [mailto:forchristsglory7@yahoo.com]
Sent: Fri 10/14/2011 1:10 PM
To: Place4 – Steve Lyda
Subject: RE: Action Needed Immediately
Thank you for your reply, Steve, However, there is something that the City can do. Please see the legislation that the City ofLewisville has. If you could lead the charge in getting this past, we will promote your work in our very active community of animal advocates to help raise support.
See:I respectfully request that you adopt the same legislation that the City of Lewisville that makes it unlawful to use animals as prizes or give-aways. See 3:8: http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientid=19957
Sec. 3-8. – Animals as prizes, promotions and novelties.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, exchange, raffle, auction, or give away or offer to sell, exchange, raffle, auction, or give away any live animal as:
(1) A prize;
(2) An inducement to enter a place of amusement or a business establishment; or
(3) An inducement to participate in a charitable fund-raising event.
(Ord. No. 3644-01-2009, § 3, 1-26-09)
~alva
Subject: RE: Action Needed Immediately
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From: Place4 – Steve Lyda
To: “Alva L C”
Date: Friday, October 14, 2011, 1:16 PM
Alva,
I agree with your comment on this legislation. However, realize that this party is outside of the Flower Mound city limits, and thus would not apply.
I am going to recommend that we have our Animal Services board possibly review this change.
-Steve
—
From: Alva L C
Sent: Fri 10/14/2011 1:49 PM
To: Place4 – Steve Lyda
Subject: RE: Action Needed Immediately
“I am going to recommend that we have our Animal Services board possibly review this change.”
Subject: RE: Action Needed Immediately
Why not just recommend, as an elected official, that the City implement this legislation? I appreciate your time, but I don’t see that your heart is in this as an elected official responsible for the laws that govern the city. I see this far too often in city and county government; when will someone finally lead the charge and say “not in my community” and stand for change?
~alva
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From: Place4 – Steve Lyda
To: “Alva L C”
Date: Friday, October 14, 2011, 1:52 PM
OK…bad choice of words on my part sorry.
I am going to recommend!
Thanks,
Date: Friday, October 14, 2011, 1:57 PM
Steve
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From: Alva L C
Subject: RE: Action Needed Immediately
To: “Place4 – Steve Lyda”
Thank you, Steve, if you let me know the date, I’d love to attend the Council meeting!
~alva
Don’t bitch about it here. Email the city council members and chamber officials directly. I just did~!~!
What a grand idea to auction off a live animal at a Chamber of Commerce party, NOT!! In the animal welfare act,it states that it is against the law to use a live animal for enticement. So,in other words,you are breaking the law under the animal welfare act of the united states..