Score one for the dogs!

Score one for the dogs!! Proposition 401, the Tucson Dog Protection Act, passed 402 to 373. Winning an election by 29 votes makes this starkly obvious: everything we did for the dogs was necessary to our success. Thank you, thank you, thank you to those who stepped forward!

There are hundreds of people and organizations who deserve thanks for their assistance to the campaign and the dogs. Among them are: Animal Defense League of Arizona, Carmen Arrison, Laura Burchette, Carol Burney, Bill Carnegie, Diana Chapin-Tsai, Kayla Coe, Dr. Phil Comer and the other 101 endorsing Tucson veterinarians, Cynthia David, Linda Dills, Christine Dorchak, Elsa Duarte, Joan Eidinger, Marion Erickson, FBI agents Mike and Jeff, Dr. Janet Forrer, Mary Gay, Greyhound Adoption League, Greyhound Network News, Greg Hale, Cindy Hall, Sandra Heater, Pete & Marilyn Kaniowsky, Bonnie Kay, Jeanne Keller, the Kislak family, Claire Klingler, KrisAnn Kokes, Janet Lang, Dona LaSchiava, Ashleigh Letofsky, Lisa Markkula, Maggie McCurry, Karen Michael, Krista Nelson, Carolyn Olson, Penny Orth, Jean Pace, Pima County Democratic Party, Joan Randles, Jim Shea, Angy Shearer, J.D. Shulec, Lorri Tracy, Jerry Tucker, Marcie Velen, Gary Vella, Susan Via, Jeff Vifquain, Maru Vigo, Chris Wencker, Ron & Roberta Wright, and Karyn Zoldan.

For those of you who weren't able to follow the campaign, we used your donations for three direct mailers to South Tucson voters, two door hangers that we passed throughout the community, 100 yard signs, and 176 radio spots on 4 Spanish stations. That may be impressive, but I'm sure what put us over the top were the intrepid volunteers who went door-to-door and talked with voters.

Kennel operators will have to either cook the diseased meat that they use or buy commercial pet food, they'll have to segregate the males and the females, and they'll have to find ways to get the dogs out of their cages at least six hours a day. If they try to get away with doing nothing, they're in for a rude awakening. We intend to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone violating the new law.

We're also staying on top of investigations by the Department of Racing and the Arizona Veterinary Examining Board. There is so much wrong with the abuse of anabolic steroids at the track that this matter won't be going away any time soon.

In other wonderful news, Massachusetts voters banned greyhound racing and California voters passed the most significant ballot initiative in U.S. history, protecting more than 20 million animals and almost certainly setting into motion a momentous change in the way that Americans view and treat animals raised for food.

Our bottom line is that we're elated at the good sense of the voters, we're enormously grateful to all of you who helped make this possible!

Your Office Manager

Jamie Massey