Animals deserve a better shakeTo the Forum:

When you think of the Kaua’i Humane Society, what comes to mind? Folks who care

for abandoned and unwanted animals? A place to adopt your new pet? Humane

officers who collect strays and respond to complaints?

A clinic that

offers low-cost spay-neuter services to the public? The beautiful new shelter

nearly completed outside Puhi? People who make sure that animals aren’t treated

cruelly?

All of the above are correct. The Kaua’i Humane Society does all

that and more. But it is important to understand the distinctions in those

services.

Because some are done under a County contract using taxpayer

monies, and others use funds provided by generous donors and grants.

The

Kaua’i Humane Society has been providing animal control services for the County

since 1988. Before that, the job was done by the County’s public works

department.

But some county officials thought this difficult and

specialized service should be performed by a professional humane

organization.

The Kaua’i Humane Society — founded as an animal welfare

organization in 1942 — was then asked to take over animal control.

The

County animal control contract includes the sheltering and acceptance of all

stray animals; administration of the spay/neuter program; adoption of stray and

feral animals, humane euthanasia of animals which are not adopted or returned

home; as well as responding to animal issues that relate to the welfare and

safety of small animals, the capture of dangerous or diseased animals, issuing

dog licenses, and dead animal pick-up on county roads.

The Humane Society,

which is a nonprofit organization run by a Board of Directors, oversees and

funds all the other services: Adoption of animals, pet loss; sheltering of

owned/unwanted animals; humane education; pet care for the sick, elderly and

emergency foster care patients; pet visitation to hospitals and long-term care

facilities; pets in-housing; euthanasia of old or very sick animals; Aloha

Angel escort services; cruelty and neglect investigations; pet visitation

program; pets in the classroom; low-cost spay or neuter; recycling at the

thrift store; and volunteer opportunities.

As the Humane Society’s need and

programs have increased, it has stepped up its fundraising efforts and people

and foundations have responded generously. Funding for the County contract,

meanwhile, has remained the same for the past three years, even though the

numbers of unwanted; animals has risen.

Last year, thousands of animals

came through the Kaua’i shelter – and the unwanted animal numbers continue to

rise.

The Kauai shelter is the only facility that addresses this problem

and we are now at the point where the Humane Society and its supporters are

subsidizing the county contract, and that’s just not right. These unwanted and

stray animals are a public responsibility, and the county should carry its

share of the burden.

If you think Kauai’s animals deserve a better shake,

please contact the Mayor and Council members during this crucial time of budget

deliberations.

You can show your support by contacting the Kauai Humane

Society and writing letters to the Council members and county Administration to

share your thoughts about the funding needed to truly make a difference now and

in the future for the island’s animals.

James Nisbet

Kalaheo