From the Miami Herald on October 3, 2023 (originally published online October 2, 2023):
Zoey, a 5-year-old pit bull, sits under the palm trees alongside owner Norman Cornavaca and friend Jimmy Amador as they enjoyed a sunny day at South Pointe Beach on Monday, June 3, 2019. DAVID SANTIAGO dsantiago@miamiherald.com
From the Miami Herald on September 27, 2023 (originally published online September 26, 2023):
Bronwyn Stanford, Miami-Dade County’s new Animal Services director, pauses after her appointment was presented to the County Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. On Sept. 26, 2023, she resigned her $212,000 post at the request of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Click here for the September 24, 2023 story about the countersuit.
Click here for the July 15th and 18th, 2023 stories about the original lawsuit and the Director’s suspension.… Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
From the Miami Herald on September 24, 2023 (originally published online September 22, 2023):
Yolanda Berkowitz founded the Friends of Miami Animals Foundation, a charity that helps Miami-Dade County’s Animal Services Department. She’s pictured here with her husband, Miami developer Jeff Berkowitz. Courtesy/Young Arts
Click here for a story on the August Inspector General’s report mentioned above.
We’re very disappointed. We falsely hoped the Pets’ Trust Plan could start on October 1, 2023. The Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners ignored us in the 2023-2024 budget. However, they did, again, increase the budget for the Animal Services department plus add a little extra slush money. When will they learn? The Animal Services budget has now quadrupled from where it was when the Pets’ Trust idea began, and the key results aren’t changing!
Here’s Doug Hanks’ September 23, 2023 story from the Miami Herald:
Source: Doug Hanks’ September 22, 2023 story in the Miami Herald, originally published online September 21st:
Chairman Gilbert criticizes Pets’ Trust supporter for referencing the Mayor.
At the Sept. 7, 2023 budget hearing before the Miami-Dade County Commission, Kendall resident Sharon Shaw criticized Mayor Daniella Levine Cava by name in her remarks. That prompted a reminder from Oliver Gilbert, chair of the County Commission, of board rules prohibiting public speakers from mentioning individuals in their comments.… Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
You won’t believe what artificial intelligence can do. We provided InVideo this eight-word phrase, “cartoon instruction video for cats to use condoms” and it created this surprisingly spot-on video:
We asked ChatGPT, “How to reduce stray animal populations” and it gave this comprehensive answer:
Reducing stray animal populations requires a combination of humane and effective strategies. Here are some key steps:
Spaying and Neutering: Implement widespread spaying and neutering programs for stray animals.
Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
…
Even though Commissioners Cohen Higgins and Regalado want to support the Pets’ Trust Plan, they can’t because they’re being PLAN-BLOCKED by Commissioner Kionne McGhee. He’s perversely using an arcane rule (see Rule 5.06(a)(4) in the BCC Rules of Procedure) to prevent them from working with the other Commissioners to implement the Plan. That’s right, one Commissioner has the power to stop the remaining 12 from discussing an item!
Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
Let’s set the record straight. Recently, lies and negative accusations about us and our organization have been spreading in the press and on social media, especially these two lies: 1) the money would go to or be controlled by our organization and 2) the money would be used to build lavish spay/neuter centers. These are simply false. But they are effective in bolstering negative sentiments, especially when they originate from The Miami Herald and a local politician with a large following who is the wife of a prominent veterinarian and President of the Miami Veterinary Foundation. … Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
On September 7, 2023, approximately 80 red-shirted people attended a rally in support of the Pets’ Trust Plan outside County Hall before the 2023-2024 Budget Meeting. Many people spoke to the Commissioners about the plight of animals in our County. Each speaker was given only one minute to say their name, address and their message.
…Commissioner Cohen Higgins addressing the entire Board of County Commissioners, September 7, 2023, made this astute assertion:
“The Pets’ Trust is not for the Mayor to implement; the Pets’ Trust is for us as a body to implement, should we so desire.
Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
The Miami Herald’s September 3, 2023 editorial (you can read it and our rebuttal below) really missed the mark by spreading a dangerous lie that started in 2013 to destroy the Pets’ Trust Plan. If the Herald’s Editorial Board had only watched their own movie Political Animals, they would know that the Pets’ Trust Plan does NOT give money to the Pets’ Trust organization. Implying that it does is a political ploy to kill the project.… Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
From the Miami Herald on August 20, 2023 (originally published online August 18, 2023):
Later that morning, Stanford texted another administrator under her, clinic coordinator Meredith Hippert, with a question: “Anything on Piper?” Hippert texted back images of the four X-rays performed on Piper with county equipment.
On Saturday, August 12th there was a PEACEFUL PROTEST FOR OUR ANIMALS at the old Miami-Dade Animal Shelter, 7401 NW 74th Street, Medley.
Rita’s Opening Statement:
Conditions are deplorable for animals in the shelter. Cats and dogs are suffering. We must let our Mayor and Commissioners know that we demand immediate action.
Dogs with NO WATER in feels-like 105° heat — why?
Tuesday, August 8, 2023 1:00 p.m.
Protesters either drove themselves to the protest or met at 11 a.m.… Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
Dan could volunteer at an animal shelter or a rescue, but his heart is out here, with the animals that are alone and afraid.
The animals here depend on Dan’s big heart, what money he has, and his energy.
Who takes care of Dan? Who rescues the rescuer? He doesn’t ask for anything for himself. I know that if he won the lottery tomorrow, every last dollar would go to dogs and people in need. True charity is selfless.… Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
Letter written to The Miami Herald by Janet Carbelli – Published May 16, 2023
Congratulations to the Miami Herald on the well-deserved Pulitzer Prize for the “Broken Promises” editorial series. This reminder of our representatives’ failures over the years to fulfill voters’ wishes is more than disheartening.
One of those wishes was funding for Pets’ Trust Miami. I was one of the 65% of voters who supported funding the initiative (costs would have been less than $20 per household per year).… Click here to read the rest of this blog post.
Wow! Doug Hanks’ extensive exposé on problems at the Miami-Dade Animal Shelter was published in The Miami Herald today. You can read the entire story here.
