Looking Forward to February!
On the February agenda, the commissioners will discuss live animal markets in the city of animal love. photo: AdobeStock
Now that we’ve entered the second month of 2025, inquiring minds want to know: how are those new year’s resolutions going? Are we all drinking more water, getting more exercise, becoming more organized, and managing our time better?
I don’t know about you, but it’s a bit of a mixed bag at my house. The only thing I can possibly lay claim to is drinking more water, but even that’s questionable.
Still there is hope! As I’ve said before, my own new year doesn’t officially begin until February so I can view any lack of progress so far this year as just practice. I still have time to embrace my lofty goals and achieve ultimate success in the new year - so wish me luck!
Speaking of luck, that was definitely something I wish we’d had more of during the commission’s first meeting of the year. Just before our January meeting was scheduled to begin, I had trouble logging on to the platform that we use to run and stream our meetings, and due to technical difficulties, our meeting was almost 20 minutes late getting started. Special thanks go to the wonderful Media Services and Digital Services folks at City Hall who were there to get us back on track. And, of course, a big apology to those left waiting for the meeting to begin. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.
Although delays are never the best way to start a new year, the January presentation more than made up for it. On the agenda was Dr. Emily Beeler, a zoonosis veterinarian with the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, who spoke to us about her department’s work tracking animal diseases in LA County. Her presentation, “One Health in Action,” focused on animal disease surveillance and emerging infectious diseases that affect both people and animals in the LA area. The Los Angeles Department of Public Health includes four staff veterinarians (San Francisco has none) and it was enlightening to hear about their research. With local cases of bird flu in the news lately, it was an especially timely topic.
At February’s commission meeting, we’ll host a follow-up presentation from the nonprofit group Animal Outlook about live animal markets in the city. During the last few weeks, local news outlets have paid increasing attention to this issue. We look forward to an update from Animal Outlook and to working with the City Attorney’s Office on ways to address issues with live markets operating in San Francisco.
At our March meeting, we hope to have a presentation about Giant Pandas and all that is involved when these animals are “rented” to zoos. We also plan to continue discussions about glue traps and rodenticides in the months ahead.
There are so many issues and so little time. But we on the Animal Commission look forward to doing everything we can to make progress possible. In the meantime, we always look forward to hearing from you so please let us know any thoughts and concerns.
You know where to find us on the second Thursday evening of the month. See you at City Hall!
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The next meeting of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, February 13, in Room 408 at City Hall (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102). Information about remote access to meetings is available at sf.gov/animalcommission. Meeting agendas are published 72 hours in advance.
Please be aware that the views and opinions expressed in this column are those of Commissioner Torres and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare.