Save the life of 9 Cats

Letter sent to the City of West Miami:

Dear Yolanda Aguilar,

Thank you for your letter dated April 16, 2013.  I would like to also thank you for speaking with me yesterday on the phone and also for providing the West Miami City Code of Ordinance.  Please allow me to bring to your attention that I have been living more than 20 years in the City of West Miami, and I have also lived more than 10 years in the County.  As far as “Miami-Dade County Code of Ordinances is silent on the number of cats that any given resident can keep on his/her property” is a false statement.  Cats are free to roam and I shall provide the City of West Miami a written statement from the county.  In addition, I am in compliance with MDC Pet Laws Section 5-6, 5-7 & 5-8.  I understand that the City of West Miami reserves the rights to have rules and regulations within the city that are and can be different for those rules and regulations from the county.  According to Chapter 4 from the West Miami City Code of Ordinance titled: “Animals and Fowl”, Section 4-2, I am in violation of the Ordinance.  Although the Ordinance has been written, allow me to mention that the signatures provided by the residents in the City of West Miami are against such Ordinance.  I am a peaceful, respectful and responsible neighbor who has gone above and beyond for the safety and health of animals.  The signatures of the residents in the City of West Miami are taken into consideration to determine the Commissioners and the Mayor, then the signatures can also be taken into consideration to change the Ordinance of the city.  The residents (both tenants and owners) in the city where not aware that such ordinance existed until I began to knock on every door asking for their support.

Nationwide, statistics show that approximately 7 million animals are put to sleep yearly since they are not able to find a home.  In 2012, The Animal Welfare Institute conducted a survey in 28 States.  Of those States, 64% of animal cruelty was reported.  I, on the other hand, have been a dedicated and responsible pet owner for over 16 years providing my cats with toys, accessories, wholesome exercise, shelter for safety, wholesome food and water, and medical assistance when needed.  My cats are vaccinated, fixed, clean, healthy, and live in a safe environment (MDC Pet Laws Section 5-6).  A street cat only has an average life expectancy of 3 years.  Setting my cats, who are over 16 years old free, will decrease their life expectancy by weeks, if not days.  They don’t know how to survive in the wild, city life.  These cats have a special diet.  Some don’t have teeth and some don’t hear well because of their age, making them handicapped.  The Humane Society, The Cat Network and Miami-Dade Animal Control will not take these cats for adoption since they are over 16 years old.  If the City of West Miami were to take 6 cats from their loving home they would be committing an act of Animal Cruelty (MDC Pet Laws Section 5-4, Sections 828.12, 828.13 and 828.16, Florida Statutes).  This can cause mental and emotional trauma to these elderly cats.  The consequences from that cruel and malicious crime would be to put the 6 cats to sleep or if they are set free in the city, they shall be exposed to diseases that could leave them to suffer and die, some could end up physically handicapped, while others could suffer a tragic death.  In addition, they could end up dying hungry, thirsty, and could not have shelter or medical assistance when needed.  These innocent cats shall become victims and would place the City of West Miami in violation of its own Ordinance according to Chapter 4 on the City of West Miami Ordinance titled: “Animals and Fowl”, Section 4-6 (Killing of animals and fowls prohibited) also would fall under the violation of the Constitutional Rights Foundation, BRIA 16 4 c Animal Rights and the Animal Laws.

I respectfully ask that the Commissioners and the Mayor of the City of West Miami to consider my petition.  In addition, please consider the signatures of the residents of the city who object to the Ordinance.

C.C.  Eduardo H. Muhiña – Mayor

         Juan M. Blanes - Vice Mayor

         Candidad "Candy" Blanca - City Commissioner

         Elsa J. Vazquez - City Commissioner

         Luciano L. Suarez - City Commissioner

         Juan Pena - Chief Code Enforcement Officer

         Charles McDermott - Code Enforcement Officer