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Hernando Today

Kudos To The County

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 27, 2008

Thank you to Hernando County for paying attention.

The e-mails were overwhelming the past week regarding the county's closing Animal Services on Saturdays and the suspension of the Spay/Neuter Rebate Program.

After attending and addressing the last two County Commission meetings I am pleased with the response of our County Commissioners and our County Administrator, David Hamilton. Each of these individuals recognized the importance of Animal Services to the welfare of the pets and pet families of our community.

At a time when the economy has declined from past years and taxpayers are clamoring for a reduction in taxes, creating a reduced county budget has been necessary. I do not envy those who will be making those decisions.

As an advocate for animal welfare, my concern, of course are the services that affect our furry friends. The facts and figures show that what is best for our furry friends is also good for our community, and the county budget.

By encouraging the spay and neuter of the pets of families whose budgets are strained, we are reducing the number of unwanted puppies and kittens that will enter the gates of Animal Services and increase costs beyond the minimal investment in the pre-emptive spay and neuter of pets.

It is more economical to adopt an animal to a loving family than to euthanize it, not to mention more humane and morally responsible.
Animal Services continuing to operate on Saturdays will result in more adoptions and more reunited lost pets. Whether you support animal welfare or a county budget that is fiscally sound, saving these two programs for Animal Services is the answer.

Thank you to our county officials for their open minds and responsiveness to these important issues.No time has this quote been more appropriate...

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. I hold that, the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of man." - Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

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