from Erin Williams - [email protected]
MILL VALLEY, Calif. � On September 24, the city of
Sherwood, Arkansas passed an ordinance to amend the city�s municipal
code to refer to people as the �owner/guardian� of their companion
animals instead of as their �owner.� The unanimous vote by the Sherwood
City Council made the city the fourth in the nation to acknowledge the
right of individuals to consider themselves the guardians of their
companion animals.
Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon and Michael Shrewsbury,
Director of The City of Sherwood Humane Animal Services who initiated
and drafted the ordinance, issued a joint statement that declared, �On
behalf of the City of Sherwood, we are proud to have reflected the
change in our municipal ordinances with regard to the �They Are Not Our
Property, We Are Not Their Owners� campaign. Sherwood prides itself on
being a leader and realizes that the time has come for changes such as
this one in the animal welfare movement. We hope that cities across the
nation will jump on board.� The statement continues, �The vote was
unanimous, and the name change law goes into effect October 24.�
Sherwood joins Boulder, CO, West Hollywood and Berkeley,
CA, and the State of Rhode Island in passing this important legislation.
Last July, Boulder became the first city to pass a measure to replace
the word �owner� with the term �guardian� in their municipal ordinances.
In February 2001, West Hollywood, CA, followed suit, overwhelmingly
approving a proposal to change all references of �animal owners� to
�animal guardians� in their municipal ordinances. Also in February 2001,
Berkeley, CA, passed a measure recognizing guardianship in their
ordinances. Berkeley City Councilmember Dona Spring called the passage
�an important milestone in raising human consciousness.�
This spring, students from Feinstein High School in
Rhode Island initiated their state's guardian legislation, working with
their state representative, Betsy Dennigan. The bill passed the House
easily, and in June, the Senate approved the legislation. This landmark
decision made Rhode Island the first state in the nation to include the
term �guardian� in all companion animal-related state legislation.
IDA President, Elliot M. Katz, DVM, praised Mayor Harmon
and Michael Shrewsbury, stating, �I am delighted that the City of
Sherwood has joined the State of Rhode Island and four other cities in
acknowledging the importance of animal guardianship over ownership. This
is another important step forward in changing the consciousness of the
American public regarding the animals with whom we share our lives.�
Erin Williams
In Defense of Animals
131 Camino Alto
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.388.9641 x26
www.idausa.org
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