Animal issues and taxpayer dollars

Make no mistake about it, animal issues affect every person in this county whether you have a pet or not. Anyone who thinks this is not the case should look closer at our community.

Every time the shelter houses a mother cat with four kittens, or each time it must euthanize a pet that cannot find a home, our tax dollars are being wasted. By being on the defense and not on the offense, Prince William County plays catch up in an area where other jurisdictions take charge and proactively address issues. With no spay/neuter programs, no humane education in schools, no pet adoption programs and no cruelty awareness campaigns, the county will continue to see 7,000 + animals taken in each year at a tax bill of well over $1.3 million annually.

Consider asking your supervisor why the county does not pursue grants or participate in programs designed to lower euthanization rates at the shelter. Further, funding is available to upgrade shelter computer systems, provide veterinary care for shelter pets, establish spay/neuter programs for residents and offer humane education in schools. All of these funding sources go untouched by Prince William County.

Since June 2007, I have been working to establish an Animal Advisory Committee which is well overdue in our community. The Prince William Board of County Supervisors had planned to discuss this issue on March 11 but the discussion was tabled until May 13th.

It is my hope that in May, the delays will cease and the board will finally hear a presentation on the formation of this committee that will serve as the catalyst for improving animal welfare.

This volunteer committee made up of citizens will work alongside county staff, community nonprofit organizations and pet-related businesses to bring change for companion animals. Grants will be pursued, programs will be created, positive changes will be made and all of this will be done without costing the county a dime. The committee, in fact, has the potential of saving the county hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.

I ask everyone to please call or write your supervisor and tell them that you support this committee and you want them to vote to approve it in May.

Learn more about the issues at www.pwc-aac.org.

MELISSA KORZUCH

President, Prince William SPCA

Woodbridge