Important information for all Maple Heights, Ohio pet owners

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- PLEASE POST AND FORWARD AS APPROPRIATE

January 14, 2005- Maple Heights Ohio: Pet Owners Have 30 Days to Get
Rid of Excess Pets

If Maple Heights votes yes on a pet limit ordinance at their Council
Meeting on January 19, pet owners will have 30 days to get rid of their pet dogs and cats.

The ordinance, not yet a law, permits 5 dogs and/or cats in
combination per residence. At the first meeting of the Safety Committee, an important grandfather clause was included in the wording of the ordinance. The grandfather clause allows pet owners over the limit to continue to keep their pets if they owned them before the ordinance became a law.

The grandfather clause has been removed in the version that will be
presented to council for a vote on January 19. At the meeting,
Councilwoman Miami, sponsor of the ordinance, confirmed that anyone over the five dog/cat limit would have 30 days to remove additional pets or be in violation of the ordinance.

PROBLEMS WITH LIMIT LAWS:

[] Limit laws punish dog and cat fanciers who train, show or simply
enjoy their pets. Rescue groups and homes that foster animals are at risk also.
[] There is no correlation between the number of pets kept and the
number of nuisance complaints.
[] An individual who allows a dog to bark at all hours, or cat to
yowl all night is more of a nuisance than a multiple pet home where the pets are clean, quiet and kept indoors.
[] Limit laws increase the killing of animals by preventing
responsible, caring homes from taking in stray and unwanted pets.

What you can do to help:

Please call, fax, write and e-mail Maple Heights City Council and
the Mayor to voice your objections to the proposed limit law:

Maple Heights City Hall
Council President Michael White
5353 Lee Road
Maple Heights, Ohio 44137
City Council Direct Line: 216-587-9000
FAX: (216) 587-9021
e-mail: maplecouncil@core.com

Hon Mayor Michael G. Ciaravino
5353 Lee Road
Maple Heights, Ohio 44137
e-mail: maplemayor@core.com

-30-

Melanie Bozzelli, MBA
Vice President, American Dog Owners Association
www.adoa.org
1654 Columbia Turnpike
Castleton, NY 12033

I can see it if the pets are causing a health, safety, or noise hazard -- then you would address it on a case-by-case basis -- but what is the reason behind this? The council person just doesn't like pets?