HomeMy WebLinkAbout083023 support the animal shelterHello County Council members,
I used to run the low-income spay-neuter program for JCASA(Jefferson
County Animal Shelter Auxiliary), which became Olympic Mountain Pet
Pals, for 16 years. I am very familiar with the need for low-income
spay/neuter services, and now with worsening economic conditions,
housing shortages, and other problems for the non-wealthy, things have
gotten much worse. Low-income people are resorting to passing out
puppies and kittens through social media instead of accessing the
limited availability of the 2 non-profit mobile spay/neuter clinics in
our county. Many people are poor enough that they can't even pay the
surrender fee at our shelter, or even the small fee at the 2 non-profit
mobile clinics. The backlog at the 2 clinics results in many unwanted
pregnancies, especially for young cats, since their owners don't realize
how young their small "kittens" can go into heat, and when it happens,
they can't get into the mobile clinic in time. Then it's too late. More
kittens needing homes. Cat populations can grow exponentially as 1
female and her litters and their litters can result in dozens of new
cats in just a year, if they aren't all spayed in time.
The County needs to take on more responsibility for these poor animals.
Suffering feral cats and dogs are a sign of social breakdown and a slide
into general poverty.
Forcing the donation-funded HSJCWA to pay County employees to repair the
building they lease (at a generously low lease rate, thankfully!) rather
than letting capable volunteers (who do most of the work there already,
since they can't afford employees) make the repairs is a heavy burden.
The County should maintain and repair the building, just like
residential landlords are required to do (regardless of the amount of
rent received).
Although there seems to be a global rise in the sentiment that people
and animals that need help should be the responsibility of churches and
non-profits and humanitarians, instead of government agencies, in our
local society we haven't quite abandoned hope that democratically
elected officials should govern for the sake of ALL, not just the
wealthy. I hope the Jefferson County Council will step up and do what is
right, and CIVILIZED, and not let us slide further into a divided
society of haves (housed, wealthy retirees, employed, well-served) and
have-nots (unhoused, unemployed, unserved). The animals, which are never
adequately protected, always take the brunt of hard times.
Help is needed on so many levels these days to keep us from descending
into slums and walled compounds for the haves. Animals can't vote, but
many of us care about them and we do. If we stay on top of problems we
can keep them from taking root in our beautiful county.
Thank you.