No More Homeless Pets
Weekly Forum
May 16-20: Statewide Spay/Neuter, Step by Step
Targeted spay/neuter programs are proven to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and save taxpayer dollars. But where do you start? Sharon Secovich of Spay Maine will share her experiences and answer your questions about launching a statewide, publicly funded spay/neuter program.
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Forum Introduction
From Sharon Secovich: Everyone who works in animal welfare knows there are more cats and dogs than homes available to take care of them. As a result, millions of animals are killed each year. As evidenced by the thousands of shelters that practice "euthanasia," the millions of donors who contribute money to shelters that "euthanize," and the animal control agencies that also "euthanize" or contract to have it performed for them, this killing of healthy adoptable animals is considered accepted public policy in this country.
I believe that pet overpopulation, their relinquishment to animal shelters, and the subsequent "euthanization" of these animals are preventable problems with a rational solution (killing being an irrational solution). In addition to being supported by both relinquishment studies and economic studies of issues surrounding pet overpopulation, this belief is also supported by the experience of the states of New Jersey and New Hampshire, which implemented low-income, low-cost spay/neuter programs in 1984 and 1994, respectively.
In July 2004, Maine also implemented a state-funded, low-income spay/neuter program. The inception of this program was spearheaded by Spay Maine, comprised of a small group of individuals who successfully tapped into the goodwill and support of the state's many shelters and rescue groups to convince the state that it was time to follow the example of New Jersey and New Hampshire. Spay Maine did this with literally no money and little legislative experience. If we did it here in Maine, you can do it in your state, too!
Forum Guests
About Sharon Secovich
