20 years in the field. It does not make me an expert but really not much I have not seen unfortunately. As for the number of dogs claimed, it depends on the City in the region but generally it ran at about 70 to as high as 90+. This is and was my big concern about cats. Fix the claiming rate before opening up the flood gates to more animals. Yes, again unfortunately good animal owners suffer as a result of limits but until certain cities improve the current system, enforce old and new systems, not intentionally turning their head to current problems which intentionally and unintentionally supported puppy and cat mills animals will suffer. Local politicians need to look long and hard and systems that are working, enact those with some modifications to suit the area and financially support these changes. They also need to educate themselves about the issues and not make ANY change without doing so and with an open mind, not for vendettas (as done in the past), not for political gain (as done in the past) and not just to tell the people what they want to hear. Do it for what is best in the long run for the animals. Quality of life is more important to quantity. They need to look into the eyes of an neglected animal or an animal that was just hit by a car and you are holding their insides in your hand while trying to save them all as a result of their actions or lack of. Creating a no kill policy then backtracking because it is costing too much shows the lack of leadership and planning that went into its initial creation. ' Lets create something because the people want to hear the words.' It was done without any or little planning as to long term effects. The $150000 over budget could have gone to increasing claiming rates of cats or 1500 spay/neuter's for low income. Help reduce the euthanasia rate and the issues that are at the root of the problem first. Sticking 10 cats in this store and 20 in that foster home etc does nothing to solve the problem. Raising the limit will not at all solve the problem. Having Wing within a few weeks say the shelter has to change the no kill policy because of cost then say the limit needs to be raised show the illogical approach to the problem. All this does is put a bandage on a problem of too many cats in the shelter because of a policy that was never researched before hand. We will raise the limit and more people will come and adopt so our problem is solved. No it won't be, not until the root of the problem is dealt with first and they cannot or choose not to see this. Allow the people to make the decisions who have the background and knowledge. Research and then put in place solutions then stand behind them by both financially and enforcement.
Hope some of this makes a little sense
