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Greetings fellow Animal Lovers, The County Commissioners have their first meeting this evening to decide the fate of Hillsborough County Animal Services - a life and death situation for the animals who count on them every year. Please speak up and be heard - our voice is strongest when we work together. Send Your Message HERE and visit TampaPets.org for updates on this crisis. The following messages from our partners, the ASPCA and The Humane Society say it all... From the ASPCA® Dear Florida Animal Advocates, In 2007, Tampa became a partner community in ASPCA® Mission: Orange™, a program committed to increasing adoptions of shelter animals and eliminating the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets due to lack of homes or resources. With the proactive work of Hillsborough County Animal Services (HCAS) and the other local partners, Tampa has been an ASPCA Mission: Orange success story--for example, adoptions increased by a staggering 48% over 2007, and 1,588 more lost companions were reunited with their loving pet parents. Now, however, our coalition's ability to continue saving animals is threatened by Hillsborough County's proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 (Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010). Unveiled on June 3, this budget will eliminate 26 positions at HCAS, including animal caretakers, cruelty investigators and customer service representatives. The elimination of these positions will have a major impact on enforcement capabilities, adoption programs, disaster relief and other efforts that are currently saving animal lives in the Tampa area. The passage of the budget as written will likely reverse the progress we've made in the past few years--meaning more animals will die needlessly. Please help the ASPCA and our Tampa partners by urging Hillsborough's Board of County Commissioners, which approves the county's budget, to reject these severe cuts to animal control staff and programs. What You Can Do Call and email the members of the Hillsborough Board of County
Commissioners to protest the proposed budget cuts to HCAS. The board's
contact information may be found here:
Budget Public Hearing Dates: Location: Thank you, Florida, for speaking up for your state's neediest animals. From The Humane Society of Tampa Bay As you are aware, in 2007 Tampa and Hillsborough County were chosen as partners in ASPCA Mission Orange, a program dedicated to increasing the adoption rate of shelter animals and eliminating the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets due to the lack of homes or resources. With the proactive work of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, No More Homeless Pets and Hillsborough County Animal Services, this community has become an ASPCA Mission Orange Success Story with adoptions increasing over 48% since 2007. However, the numbers do not begin in 2007 and end in 2009. Since 2005, HCAS and HSTB have been relentless and driven to a combined goal of enhancing the lives of the pets and their owners of Hillsborough County. We are proud of those accomplishments: • 103% increase in pet adoptions and transfers to humane organizations Any community would be proud of these statistics but these numbers have not come easy. In just one year, 2008 to 2009, your HCAS staff has accomplished their mission by 152,341 rabies licenses sold, 113,326 calls for service or information, 87,776 shelter visitors, 32,990 responses by animal control officers, 29,639 dogs and cats impounded, and 6,141 civil citations issued for violations. With the Proposed Budget of 2010 and 2011this community's ability to save animals, protect citizens and maintain a balance in quality of life for its citizens is now threatened. This budget proposal will eliminate 26 positions at HCAS including shelter animal caretakers, cruelty investigators and adoption personnel. The elimination of these positions will have a major impact on enforcement, adoptions, disaster relief and all other efforts that are currently so successful in saving the lives of animals and ensuring the safety of citizens and neighborhoods. The passage of this proposed budget as written, will reverse the progress made in the last several years meaning more animals will die needlessly and more citizens will be at risk. On behalf of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, its 17,000 loyal supporters, and cruelty case animals like Casper and Miss Ginny, we encourage you to vote in favor of those who can not speak for themselves and against these drastic measures that will, without doubt, impact a community which has struggled for years to make Hillsborough County a place to be proud of. Holly O'Brien, President HSTB Board of Directors |