Vets out of line To the Forum:

I was appalled at the testimonies given by the local veterinarians at the

Council Budget hearing May 3. Not only do I know some of the facts and figures

they presented to be out of line, they were borderline slanderous towards some

of the people who continue to work to make a difference here on Kaua’i.

I

do understand the idea that fewer “live” animals at the Kaua’i Humane Society

would mean less food needed, fewer staff required to take care of them, and the

need for a larger facility could be greatly reduced, thereby eliminating the

need for a larger budget allocation.

But this is not an option anyone who

truly cares about animals could well tolerate. The plan for a low-cost

spay/neuter clinic was a good idea and one practiced in many other places. It

is meant to cover the full spectrum of people—those who cannot pay and those

who will not pay.

I do not understand how the veterinarians can construe

this as competition from a nonprofit organization. I’ve certainly never heard

anything that would lead me to believe the Kaua’i Humane Society wanted to

compete or felt this was a way to make lots of money.

They simply want to

help eliminate the need to euthanize so many healthy animals in the

future.

After listening to the testimonies and questions asked, it is

apparent the veterinarians of Kaua’i were not satisfied when they were

receiving 80 percent of the county monies set aside for the spay/neuter program

through the Kaua’i Humane Society.

They made feeble attempts to prove

there was a mis-allocation of funds even then because they did not receive it

all! Dr. Woltman even answered the question as to whether he could or would

provide $50 spay/neuters to the public if the county gave him the full $60,000

with a “No.” This he said was due to the fact he had staff to pay, and

administrative costs that needed to be covered.

Dr. Woltman, do you think

all the staff at the humane society are volunteers, or do you just feel these

caretakers of Kaua’i’s unwanted and abandoned animals do not deserve to be paid

as much as your people?

How can you say the $50 fee paid to the Kaua’i

Humane Society is “pure profit” when you state the rate you must charge is over

four times that amount and should be eight times to break even?

How is it

that people who made a decision to help the animals by becoming veterinarians

refuse to support a low-cost spay/neuter clinic that would ensure fewer

homeless animals in the future, resulting in fewer healthy animals needing to

be euthanized?

Are you so blinded by greed you cannot see there are those

out there who may be financially able to pay a large amount to fix their pets

but choose not to? You cannot force the public to do anything they do not feel

is necessary or cost effective.

Low cost spay/neutering must be offered to

everyone in order for it to work as quickly and effectively as need be.

I

also am aware that the Kaua’i Humane Society, rather than turning people away

due to their inability to come up with the $50 fee, as was stated by one of the

veterinarians, have allowed people to make payments or do volunteer work to

help defray this cost.

The Kaua’i Humane Society testified it had some

problems substantiating intake numbers from this past year, but were willing to

put programs and people in place to prevent this from happening again. In

short, they have admitted their mistakes.

I feel this is admirable. Who is

going to hold the veterinarians accountable for the lies and deceit they

testified to? Whose credibility should be questioned here?

I would be very

apprehensive about taking an animal, much less a beloved pet, to any of the

local veterinarians after sitting through that hearing.

Council members,

please stand up for what’s right and in the best interest of Kaua’i, her people

and her animals. Be a part of the resolution of a long-standing problem. Do not

give credence to greed and fear. Help stop the killing of healthy, adoptable

animals. Please allocate more money to the Kaua’i Humane Society so they can

continue with their programs and care of all the animals.

Kerrie

Gallacher