Letters to the Editor published so far in response to Animal Control and the June 3, 2007 article
The only letter from any member of our group is the one from Becki Williams. While many members of FGCAS may agree with sentiments expressed in the letters, we are dedicated to obtaining change by working with Animal Control, not against. However, inaction or refusal to bargain seriously may result in our own policy change.
Change in kill policy needed
FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Monday, June 18, 2007
Nonprofit animal rescue groups exist because people believe animals should not suffer at the hands of human neglect and irresponsibility. Chief Animal Control Officer Lloyd Gerhardt would rather kill animals with taxpayers' money and call it "fair" than release them to shelters that bridge the gap of humane and responsible practices regarding stray and unwanted animals.
Adoption shelters offer the chance for an animal to keep its life and be placed in a responsible, loving home. Animal Control should partner with shelters to preserve life and work on proactive strategies to reduce animal overpopulation and neglect. Taxpayers don't have to pay to adopt an animal, but we are being forced to fund the killing of animals that might otherwise be adopted if Gerhardt would be proactive.
It is time for an animal advocate with some business and community sense to head up Animal Control. Let's entrust this responsibility to someone willing to partner with supportive resources that will not only save money, but save lives by keeping Animal Control from being a killing center for animals that are already victims of a neglectful human environment.
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Ellen Brothers, Flint
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Let rescue groups help animals
FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Monday, June 18, 2007
I hope the article on the practices at Genesee County Animal Control ["Dead end," June 3, Page A1] will disturb and compel area residents into demanding changes at the facility. For too long, it has been "business as usual" at Animal Control no matter how many complaints are received.
Lloyd Gerhardt's comment that he doesn't think it's "fair" for rescue groups to take animals for free, vaccinate, spay/neuter, foster and find homes for them, while citizens have to pay $65 for them, is ludicrous. So euthanasia is the "fair" way to go?
If this is the philosophy of our tax-supported facility, we need to step up and insist that changes are made immediately. I urge this community to call, e-mail and write their county commissioners and perhaps speed Mr. Gerhardt's retirement as chief animal control officer, or pressure him and his staff into rapid changes.
The animals that languish in these cages and then go quietly to their death for no other reason than it's the easy solution deserve better. Pet overpopulation is a tremendous problem, but cooperating with rescue groups could spare some animals. Why the resistance?
It is time for the people to stand up for these helpless animals and say, "We're not going to take it any more."
Susan K. Baker Redfield, Flint
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Suggestions could help Animal Control with pet problems
FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thanks to Ron Fonger for his article, "Dead End: Few dogs and cats make it out of shelter alive" [June 3, Page A1]. I would like to respond to two statements:
1. "It's not fair to give animals free to rescue groups when taxpapers have to pay."
Rescue groups now pay for animals that are scheduled for euthanasia (the ones that taxpayers have not adopted or claimed.) If these animals are going to be destroyed, it would save the taxpayers money, and the life of the animal, by giving them to the rescue groups. Many people won't go to the county animal shelter to adopt because it is so dismal. Some have seen staff hose down cages with animals still in them. They do not encourage volunteering that might reduce animal stress. Animals are in cages 24/7.
2. "Spaying/neutering is an answer."
Because of the economy, Genesee County Animal Control could open its spay clinic for those who can't afford it. However, there is a population that refuses to spay when the sale of puppies brings money or more dogs for fighting. Animal Control services this population by never refusing anyone from adopting. Most animals never make it to the adoption ward; most are so scared and fear is usually mistaken for aggression.
Glenda Beatty, Swartz Creek
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I hope everyone who read the entire article about Genesee County Animal Control was outraged by the chief officer's statement that he would rather have animals die than release them to animal rescue groups free of charge. ["Dead end: Few dogs and cats make it out of shelter alive," June 3, Page A1] What is wrong with letting rescue groups treat, inoculate, spay or neuter, and find responsible adopters for the animals? Their purpose is to find homes for the homeless, not be competition to animal control. There is still an adoption fee to help cover the costs involved in running a true shelter. It is my opinion that the chief officer of animal control should be replaced with someone who has more concern for the welfare of the animals. While reducing the number of homeless animals is an honorable goal, shared by rescue organizations, simply killing them is not an honorable way to achieve it.
Connie Beard, Fenton
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FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
In response to the front page
story on Genesee County Animal Control ["Dead End," June 3, Sunday], it's easy
to criticize, looking from the outside at problems. These animal groups that
come to the shelter adopt animals and resell them for profit. Some of our
animals are the ones people would see at a local pet store, so there really is a
good reason they would want our animals for free - to make profit. I've been an
animal control officer for 18 years, starting as a kennel attendant where I
cleaned, fed, watered and hated euthanasia. I later moved up to road officer,
answering complaints, impounding vicious animals and helping place unwanted
animals in good homes where they will be cared for and loved like part of the
family.
To have people coming in as supposed friends of Animal Control to snipe at our work is insulting. We do the best we can with what we have in spite of budgets, critics and dogfights. We will always do our best for the animals of Genesee County.
Sgt. Carol Gillespie Flint Township
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FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Regarding the June 3 front-page article "Dead end," I think the solution is multi-pronged.
First, we, as a county, as animal lovers or Christians who cherish life, need to feel outraged at this euthanasia situation at the Genesee County Animal Control shelter.
Second, we need to ask for citizens, vet technicians, retirees, etc., to volunteer in whatever capacity they can to implement new approaches that would reduce these deaths.
Third, we need to ask for grants based on the dire situation in this county from whatever organizations might help. We can encourage people, as a neighbor of mine did, to contribute to the shelter in lieu of flowers at funerals.
Fourth, we must insist that the shelter start advertising in the paper, on TV and on radio. They should take photos to display at pet stores or other stores that might be willing to post fliers.
Fifth, no animal should be released, with a few exceptions, for adoption or returned to an owner without being spayed or neutered. Even a house pet that escapes can impregnate other dogs or cats in the time they are lost on the streets.
Sixth, we should begin to approach veterinarians to donate their time for spaying or neutering or they could donate their facilities to a retired vet who might be willing to work one day a week free of charge.
Seventh, we should look at paying for the cost of spaying and neutering for the disabled in some cases.
Eighth, we might look at suggestions as to what has worked in other areas of the country with this problem, such as a treat-and-release program for feral cat populations.
Lastly, I believe, with some exceptions, that individual owners should be fined for not neutering or spaying their pets. The owners' apathy and lack of understanding of consequences is costing the county money and causing heartache for all people and organizations that are working hard to find every pet a home. They need to be made responsible for their behavior.
If we do not take drastic measures to address the situation, then we can never get a handle on reducing, let alone ever think of eliminating, this unconscionable situation.
Jane L. Kiczenski
Flint
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(Please note: This original article was submitted to the Journal on June 6th, but never published. It was resubmitted in July, after Sgt Gillespie's letter was published, however the Journal chose not to publish the introduction sent with this letter which referred to Gillespie's animosity.
FLINT JOURNAL LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Friday, July 20, 2007
On June 6th, 2007, I submitted the following article as a Letter to the Editor of the Flint Journal. I’m resubmitting it in hopes that this time it will be published. There have been several concerned letters written lately about the Shelter and it’s policies. While the authors of these letters are unknown to me, I’d like to let them and other people of our community know that we, FGCAS, have been working with the director, Lloyd Gerhardt, to develop new ideas and protocol to help speed the animals on their way to new homes. A committee is being formed to analyze and initiate some of these changes, however, it’s a slow, tedious process filled with emotion.
I had believed that we’d established ourselves to Chief Gerhardt and the Shelter staff as concerned citizens who are dedicated to working with them to help reduce the amount of animals they must euthanize. However, after reading Sgt Gillespie’s letter, I see we still have a long way to go before relations are not strained. The sooner we can wade through animosity, the faster we all can begin to make a difference.
Thank you,
Becki Williams
www.fgcas.info
On behalf of the Friends of Genesee County Animal Shelter volunteers, I would like to thank Ron Fonger and The Flint Journal for mentioning our group in "Dead End" [June 3, Page A1], the article about euthanizing animals at local shelters. I'd also like to thank the Genesee County residents who, as a result of the article, have contacted us and expressed an interest in joining or supporting our group and its efforts.
No one likes seeing the high number of animals being euthanized at the shelters. It's heart-wrenching to go there and see the hope and despair, love and fear, even trust, in the animals' faces even though they've been abandoned.
We might be tempted to blame the people working there and label them as uncaring individuals. The truth is the employees who work with the animals and eventually have to euthanize them hate it even more than we do. It's a part of their job that they would readily give to someone else, but nobody else wants it.
They're trapped in a never-ending circle of animals that are dropped off, picked up as strays or turned in by owners. We, as owners and caregivers, should be held accountable for the animals. The shelter workers, in other words, get to clean up after our messes of unwanted puppies and kittens - cats that outgrow being cuddly, dogs that didn't potty train or whatever other excuse we come up with for abandoning a pet.
It's time for people to step up to the task of responsible pet ownership. If you have pets, make sure they're spayed or neutered. If you are thinking about getting a pet, make sure you consider the long-term responsibility ownership involves. Realize they are living creatures who will be dependent on your for their lifetime.
Help your friends understand that the miracle of birth more than likely means innocent lives later will be abandoned at the roadside or dumped at the shelter. Too many puppies, kittens, dogs and cats end up unwanted and someone else's problem.
But it's not really someone else's problem anymore. It's ours. It's our goal to work with, not against, Animal Control staff members because they are not the enemy, just the unfortunate executioners. Will we be able to make a difference? Yes, and I know everyone involved will be elated to see the numbers decline.
Becki Williams, founder , Montrose
Friends of Genesee County Animal Shelter