Formal Meeting · 17 June 2026

1. 0:31:20Here.

1. 0:31:46I move to approve resolution 233.
2. 0:31:49Second.

1. 0:32:25I move to approve resolution 234.
2. 0:32:28Second.

1. 0:32:56I move to approve resolution 235.
2. 0:33:00Second.

1. 0:33:29I move to approve resolution 236.
2. 0:33:32Second.
3. 0:33:35Roll call.

1. 0:34:02I move to approve resolution 237.
2. 0:34:05Second.
3. 0:34:07We have a motion and a second.
4. 0:34:09Roll call.

1. 0:34:18Yes.

1. 0:34:47I move to approve resolution 238.
2. 0:34:50Second.

1. 0:34:53Yes.
2. 0:34:54Hernandez?
3. 0:34:54Yes.

1. 0:35:23Good afternoon.
2. 0:35:25Madam Mayor, I would like to thank you, the City Council, and the staff for the opportunity to be here today to open up this meeting with the invocation.
3. 0:35:34Please bow your heads and pray with me.
4. 0:35:37Gracious God, we thank you for this day and for the privilege of serving the residents of Phoenix.
5. 0:35:43We are grateful for the members of the City Council and for their commitment to our community.
6. 0:35:49As they gather to conduct the city's business, grant them wisdom, discernment, and clarity of thought.
7. 0:35:57Help them work together with respect and understanding as they consider the needs of those that they serve.
8. 0:36:05We also give thanks for the residents of Phoenix and for all who contribute to making this city a vibrant and caring community.
9. 0:36:14May this meeting be productive, thoughtful, and focused on the common good.
10. 0:36:20And I ask this in Jesus' name.
11. 0:36:22Amen.

1. 0:40:42Yes.

1. 0:47:43Yes.

1. 0:50:19Yes.

1. 0:52:10My name is Coco Garcia.
2. 0:52:11I'm the founder of Handover Rover.
3. 0:52:13We're a small rescue here in the Phoenix, Scottsdale area.
4. 0:52:16We spend a tremendous amount of time, money, and resources negotiating animals off tiebacks when we learn that this is how they live.
5. 0:52:23The suffering that takes place
6. 0:52:26In the desert heat is just too much to look away from.
7. 0:52:29Last winter, we worked on a case that involved a female doodle living on a rope with one of her puppies and a 3x3 cage.
8. 0:52:36There was also a tiny chihuahua that was attached to the doodle, so they were both on the same rope.
9. 0:52:42Poverty's pets had already been met with hostility, so I knocked on the door to see if I could possibly hit them with a different angle.
10. 0:52:48I was pretty nervous.
11. 0:52:49I don't like confrontation.
12. 0:52:51and to my surprise I was met with two young men 15 and 17 years old.
13. 0:52:55They were the primary caretakers and had no problem spilling the tea and letting me know that they breed these dogs for money.
14. 0:53:02It's an easy profit and their parents drive them to the places where puppies were likely to get sold.
15. 0:53:07These animals lived on three feet of tangled ropes permanently.
16. 0:53:11They couldn't reach their food or water.
17. 0:53:12We got involved in the winter but this had been going on for well over a year.
18. 0:53:17It took us about three weeks of driving an hour back and forth before we were finally able to win over the trust of these young men and get them to agree to rehome these dogs to us and to Poverty's Pets.
19. 0:53:28It was a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of resources that we put into one case.
20. 0:53:33This is just one of several, several hundred that we have worked over the years.
21. 0:53:37Passing this ordinance today isn't just going to aid in the overpopulation because when people own these animals,
22. 0:53:43and they have the option to put them on tie backs they will use them for breeding if that's what they're using them for but if that's not allowed they don't have the they're not going to put extra time and money into building and securing a fence so likely they just won't own them but this is also going to change how the future of our youth view these animals passing this law today is indirectly creating better humans we're hopeful that you guys agree thank you thank you so much

1. 0:54:21Madam Mayor and members of the council, my name is Don Bentley and I'm here with Poverty's Pets to speak in favor of the proposed changes for the dog tethering ordinance.
2. 0:54:31These proposed changes fix a major flaw in the current ordinance.
3. 0:54:36The city currently has a full ban on dog tethering during extreme weather conditions, which means essentially whenever the temperature is over 100 degrees.
4. 0:54:46But there's no ban at all when the temperature is under 100 degrees.
5. 0:54:51So tethering may be legal in the morning, but not legal in the afternoon.
6. 0:54:56And tethering may become illegal at a different time each day, depending on when the temperature hits 100 degrees.
7. 0:55:04So the current ordinance is confusing for citizens, and it's very difficult for police and cruelty investigators to enforce.
8. 0:55:15Additionally, dog tethering results in a great deal of animal cruelty.
9. 0:55:20Outside temperature is an important factor, but it's not the only one.
10. 0:55:25Your proposed changes address the root problem and ban the practice entirely unless it's under direct supervision of the dog owner.
11. 0:55:35So thank you and please support these proposed changes.

1. 0:55:54Hello, my name is Barbara Brackett, and I've been volunteering for Poverty's Pets for about four years.
2. 0:56:00I first became involved with Poverty's Pets after adopting a dog through them.
3. 0:56:04I wanted to do more, so I started helping to distribute flyers in targeted underserved communities, letting residents know about the free spay and neuter clinics.
4. 0:56:14And then I volunteered at the clinics themselves.
5. 0:56:18Before finding Poverty's Pets, I honestly didn't spend much time in these neighborhoods.
6. 0:56:22Like most of us, I traveled the same roads and routes and so was completely unaware of the conditions many animals were living in.
7. 0:56:29Dogs roaming freely, strays struggling to survive, and injured animals with little or probably no care.
8. 0:56:39As I mentioned before, Poverty's Pets volunteers, like myself, prepared for clinics by walking neighborhoods, distributing flyers.
9. 0:56:47And what we saw was eye-opening.
10. 0:56:50We saw dogs living on chains and cables.
11. 0:56:54We saw dogs confined to impossibly small areas, isolated and often without food or water or the ability to get out of the sun.
12. 0:57:04The suffering was difficult to witness, and often what I saw stayed with me long after I returned home.
13. 0:57:11These experiences strengthen my belief that we all have a responsibility to care for animals that depend entirely on us, as well as educate pet owners.
14. 0:57:22That's why I support this ordinance.
15. 0:57:24It will help protect dogs from prolonged tethering, but it will also send an important message that animals deserve compassion.
16. 0:57:33They deserve proper care.
17. 0:57:35And they deserve a better quality of life.
18. 0:57:37Equally as important, it will help educate pet owners and encourage the more humane treatment of animals throughout our community.
19. 0:57:45Thank you for your time and for supporting this important step forward for the dogs of Phoenix.

1. 0:58:03Hola, mi nombre es Ernestina Briceño y soy voluntaria con Poverty Pets.
2. 0:58:08Conocía por primera vez hace cuatro años.
3. 0:58:12Vinieron a mi vecindario y dejaron un volante sobre servicios gratuitos de esterilización y castración.
4. 0:58:19Tenía muchos gatos ferales.
5. 0:58:21Necesitaba ayuda, así que llamé al número del volante.
6. 0:58:25Después de eso me convertí en voluntaria.
7. 0:58:28Ahora ayudo a mi comunidad.
8. 0:58:30Ayudo a traducir y explicar información para familias que hablan mi idioma.
9. 0:58:34Muchas personas se sienten más cómodas cuando alguien puede hablar con ellas.
10. 0:58:39y ayudarlas a entender.
11. 0:58:42En mi vecindario veo muchos perros atados viviendo fuera, algunos están atados a cercas, muchos están solos en patios traseros por largos periodos de tiempo.
12. 0:58:53Mucha gente no entiende que esto puede hacerles daño a los perros.
13. 0:58:57Veo mucho insecto, garrapatas en los perros.
14. 0:59:01Trato de educar a las personas cuando puedo.
15. 0:59:04Les explico que los perros necesitan cuidado, sombra, agua y cariño.
16. 0:59:08También explico mejores maneras de mantenerlos seguros y como parte de la familia.
17. 0:59:14Estoy contenta con esta nueva ley.
18. 0:59:16Creo que ayudará a proteger los perros en nuestra comunidad.
19. 0:59:20También creo que ayudará a enseñarles a la gente compasión y una mejor comprensión.
20. 0:59:26Thank you for your time and for caring for the animals in our city.
21. 0:59:31Thank you.
22. 0:59:33Thank you.

Spoken in Spanish, transcribed as said

Some lines may be an automatic translation of Spanish speech, not the speaker's own words

1. 1:01:35Good afternoon, Mayor and Council Members.
2. 1:01:38My name is Sherry Hoffman, and I have been volunteering with Poverty's Pets for over a decade, and I'm currently on the board.
3. 1:01:45Before each spay and neuter clinic, we canvass the neighborhood, leaving flyers on the doors.
4. 1:01:57And we do this probably at least once a month, maybe twice a month.
5. 1:02:02Poverty's Pets dedicated volunteers.
6. 1:02:05I'm sorry.
7. 1:02:07The one flyer initiates a conversation.
8. 1:02:09Once an individual reaches out to us, we feel an obligation to help.
9. 1:02:15By asking them four words, how can we help?
10. 1:02:20opens the door to get them services they need.
11. 1:02:23Many of these families are rescuing animals because they can't stand to see them suffer on their streets.
12. 1:02:32Walking the streets in these underserved communities, we witness the horrific effects of tethering.
13. 1:02:39Dogs standing in their own feces and urine, covered in flies, behavioral deterioration, heightened aggression,
14. 1:02:49Severe psychological distress and vulnerable to extreme weather, which we can see in which we have in Phoenix like today, which is 110 degrees out.
15. 1:02:59Today we are taking a definitive step in the right direction to ensure dogs in Phoenix will no longer suffer on the end of a tether.
16. 1:03:08Please vote in favor of this legislation.
17. 1:03:11The dogs will thank you.
18. 1:03:13Thank you very much for your time.

1. 1:03:23Good afternoon.
2. 1:03:24My name is Bill Ross and I'm a board member with the Poverty Pets organizations.
3. 1:03:30I'd like to take a moment now to express our gratitude to all the folks in city leadership who have taken the time to meet with us over the past several years.
4. 1:03:39as we work to better understand animal welfare issues in Phoenix and explore solutions to reduce animal neglect and cruelty.
5. 1:03:47We met several times with Maricopa Animal Care and Control where staff helped us better understand the challenges facing animal welfare in our community.
6. 1:03:57We also met with Commander Shane Disatel, who always made himself accessible, answered our questions, and helped us understand enforcement realities.
7. 1:04:06We met with Spencer Self as well from Neighborhood Services and had helpful conversations and very productive conversations with council members Pastor, Waring, Robinson, Guardado, as well as former council members.
8. 1:04:19When we first started this journey, we quickly learned that we didn't know what we didn't know.
9. 1:04:24We had to educate ourselves on how animal welfare is managed in the city, who handles what, where complaints go, and how different departments work together.
10. 1:04:32What we did know, however, was that there were far too many animals suffering.
11. 1:04:37As we listened, learned, and met with stakeholders throughout the city, one thing became clear that education, while important, there are situations where stronger protections are needed to prevent ongoing neglect and suffering.
12. 1:04:50The proposed anti-tethering ordinance is a result of years of conversations, research, and collaboration.
13. 1:04:57It is a reasonable measure and a meaningful step to ensure dogs are treated humanely while still allowing responsible pet owners to safely manage their animals.
14. 1:05:07We respectfully ask for you to support this ordinance change and for your continued commitment to protecting the welfare of Phoenix animals.
15. 1:05:15Thank you for your time and consideration.

1. 1:05:29Good afternoon, Mayor and Council Members.
2. 1:05:32My name is Kate Civilella, and I'm the founder of Poverty Pets.
3. 1:05:36For over a decade, we have advocated for strong, clear, anti-tethering legislation in Phoenix.
4. 1:05:43Many of you have met with us.
5. 1:05:45What we see every week is not abstract.
6. 1:05:49It is dogs tied 24-7, tangled in ropes, cables, chains, without clean water or shade, and living in deplorable conditions.
7. 1:05:58Just recently, Poverty Pets reported a tethered dog.
8. 1:06:02The dog was tethered by a short rope attached to a cloth collar.
9. 1:06:07It was 99 degrees outside.
10. 1:06:10We were told there was nothing that could be done as the temperature had not yet reached 100 degrees.
11. 1:06:16At 99 degrees, the dog was legal.
12. 1:06:20One digit later, that exact same dog, standing in the exact same spot, tethered in the exact same manner, would suddenly become illegal.
13. 1:06:32The dog's suffering did not change when the temperature moved one degree.
14. 1:06:37Cruelty cannot be measured by temperature alone.
15. 1:06:40For too long, discussions have been centered on whether a dog is tethered with a chain, a cable, or a rope.
16. 1:06:47But changing the material does not change the reality for a dog.
17. 1:06:52A tethered dog is still confined, isolated, and vulnerable.
18. 1:06:56This ordinance moves the conversation beyond those loopholes and keeps the focus where it needs to be, on the welfare of the animal.
19. 1:07:05We are grateful for this council for taking this issue seriously
20. 1:07:10I would also like to thank Councilwoman Laura Pastor and your office for your continued support and commitment on this issue.
21. 1:07:19This language moves Phoenix in the right direction.
22. 1:07:22It is practical, a step forward, and will help educate both owners and help educate owners and dogs will receive a humane... All right.

1. 1:07:53Good afternoon, and thank you for letting us all talk.
2. 1:07:56You've heard from a lot of my colleagues and friends here, and we are all here supporting the same thing.
3. 1:08:03I volunteer with Handover Rover Rescue, and we spend countless hours doing trap, neuter, and return work for community cats throughout Phoenix.
4. 1:08:13And rescue work puts you in some places that most people never see, puts you face to face with animals that have been neglected, abandoned, or forgotten.
5. 1:08:23I've seen dogs left outside in extreme heat with little human interaction.
6. 1:08:29We've seen dogs spending day after day tied to a chain or cable tether.
7. 1:08:34And we've seen the physical and emotional toll that isolation and neglect can take on an animal.
8. 1:08:40In rescue, we often encounter animals that after months and years of neglect, the dogs that spend their lives at the end of a chain, they have no voice of their own.
9. 1:08:49And today, we have the opportunity to speak with them.
10. 1:08:54Every animal that we've rescued had really one thing in common.
11. 1:08:58They're waiting for a human to do the right thing.
12. 1:09:00Today, you have the opportunity to do the right thing for countless of animals you may never see or meet.
13. 1:09:09I respectfully ask for your support and thank you for your time and consideration.
14. 1:09:15Thank you.

1. 1:11:13There are many people,