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JAN. 13, 2012
THE COAST NEWS
Del Mar dog trainer specializes in shelter adoptions By Lillian Cox
DEL MAR — Last year, approximately 8,412 dogs were euthanized by the San Diego Department of Animal Services and local shelters, according to the San Diego Animal Welfare Coalition. Of those euthanasias, 4,185 were owner-requested citing “not healthy” as the reason, and 1,945 because dogs were determined to be “unhealthy and untreatable” by shelter staff. The remaining 2,282 euthanasias were of healthy, adoptable dogs. “So heartbreaking, so many great dogs are in need of training,” said Linda Michaels, M.A., and a Victoria Stilwell-licensed dog trainer. “Most dogs are abandoned because of a behavioral issue that became unbearable for the family.” Ten years ago, Michaels was working on her master’s thesis when she began volunteering at the San Diego Humane Society. “I thought I was going to be a behavioral neurologist, and then my world just stopped,” she said. “I discovered that dogs have a lot of the same emotional issues as
people such as abandonment, fear, anxiety, stress and separation anxiety.” As a volunteer, Michaels choose the most difficult cases to work with. “I knew that if someone didn't take an interest in a ‘tough case,’ the outcome for that dog would likely be euthanasia,” she added. Michaels continued her education and became certified by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, an AKC-certified instructor and evaluator, an AKC star puppy trainer and a certified veterinary assistant. She was also in the first graduating class of the “Training for Trainers” program at the San Diego Humane Society. Two years ago, Victoria Stilwell, host of “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet, began developing a network of licensed trainers. Michaels became the 11th of what is now a network of 50 Stilwelllicensed dog trainers worldwide. “I was thrilled to be able to add Linda to the VSPDT team,” Stilwell said. “Not only does she bring tremendous From left: Sandie Lampie, host, Pet Patrol on KUSI with dog trainer Victoria Stilwell and Linda Michaels, M.A. academic credentials and and a Victoria Stilwell-licensed dog trainer. Stilwell, host of “It’s Me or the Dog” on Animal Planet, promotes a extensive training experience positive reinforcement approach to dog training. Courtesy photo
to her work, but what really makes her special is her passionate devotion to helping the dog-owning community of Southern California understand the benefits and effectiveness of using positive training methods as opposed to flawed compulsion and dominance-based techniques.” Michaels said she shares Stilwell’s belief that dogs learn best by using scientifically-endorsed, positive-reinforcement and nonaversive training techniques such as praise, treats, toys and harnesses. She added that shock, prong and choke collars can sometimes have the reverse effect, even resulting in aggression. “I believe we can turn this sad situation at shelters around,” Michaels said. “Training should begin as early as possible, eight weeks for puppies and the first day in the new home for rescues.” To do her part, Michaels offers a 10 percent discount to people adopting a rescue dog, and 15 percent if it is done within the first 30 days. She offers these tips in TURN TO TRAINER ON B19
Court decision will have slight impact on development projects By Bianca Kaplanek
SOLANA BEACH — A Dec. 29 ruling by the California Supreme Court that upheld a state decision to abolish redevelopment agen-
cies will negatively impact at least one planned project in Solana Beach but overall is not expected to have a significant effect on some other potential developments, City
Manager David Ott said. Redevelopment money is “a significant financial resource” for planned improvements at La Colonia Park and Community Center,
Ott said. “That is definitely in jeopardy,” he said. In September 2010, council members authorized staff to move forward to send plans for the $5.5 million project to the California Coastal Commission for approval. But Coastal Commission permits are only valid for two years so city officials must decide whether to go ahead with those plans without a major funding source right now, Ott said. Redevelopment agencies, or RDAs, allow cities to use part of their property tax revenue — money that would otherwise go to state coffers — to improve areas that have been deemed blighted. Gov. Jerry Brown sought to eliminate the agencies to help balance the state budget. The agencies sued the state hoping to overturn two laws passed last year and the case went to the Supreme Court.
Based on last month’s ruling, all agencies must be dissolved by Feb. 1. Redevelopment areas in Solana Beach include the Highway 101 commercial corridor north of Dahlia Avenue and the Eden Gardens neighborhood. The city used $62,000 from its redevelopment plan, adopted in 2004, for the recent renovation of Fletcher Cove Community Center. In addition to the La Colonia improvements, other significant proposed projects include redevelopment along Coast Highway 101 and a mixed-use development at the train station. “The 101 improvements are mainly being funded by a percentage of future TransNet (money) so (the decision) will affect that a little bit but not enough to make a huge impact,” Ott said. He also said he didn’t expect the elimination of the
agency to play a significant role in the train station project, which the city is hoping to develop through a partnership with North County Transit District. State law required RDAs to deposit 20 percent of their tax increment revenues into low- and moderate-income housing funds. The recent decision should have little if any impact on The Pearl, a proposed affordable housing complex currently being discussed for a city-owned parking lot on South Sierra Avenue, as any city money for that project will come from funds set aside years ago based on a court settlement, Ott said. But because RDA money was a “significant funding mechanism to provide affordable housing,” abolishing the agencies is expected to have a major impact on the city’s TURN TO DEVELOPMENT ON B19