ATTN...PINELLAS COUNTY PET OWNERS! Next Tuesday, September 10, the Pinellas County Commission is holding a public workshop to discuss, and prepare a Mandatory Spay Neuter law for Pinellas County. This legislation was tabled in April of 2012, but is now back for a worksho0p to draft a brand new, MSN law for Pinellas County. There is a significant amount of support for such a law, including several petitions, and County Commissioners who are in favor, and say the time has come. Supporters of this proposal have been at every council meeting & workshop since April. There has been no one speaking in opposition! The goal of MSN is to reduce the number of shelter dogs, and euthanasia cases in Pinellas County, and thereby cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, there is no proof that MSN legislation works, and in fact, other municipalities that have enacted MSN have not only failed to curb the shelter populations, but in most cases, shelter admissions have INCREASED, as people not willing to alter their pets, simply dump them to avoid being responsible. Worse yet, licensing revenue and the chance of reuniting lost pets with their owners goes DOWN as people refrain from licensing their pets so as not to be “tagged” for having an intact pet. For the same reason, those same people refrain from seeking Veterinary care for their pets. Please understand that this debate is NOT about whether or not to alter our animals. It is about the Pinellas County Government telling us what we MUST do with our animals. It is about the County turning responsible pet owners, who take exceptional care of their animals, but choose not to alter their animals into criminals. It would also make responsible breeders, either pay hefty fees for having their animals unaltered, or abandon years (or decades) of a well-planned and researched breeding program, and limit the choices of people who DO want a purebred pet to hunt out of county or on the internet. This text, from Pinellas County’s own website is scary enough on its own… Myth #3: Dogs and cats should not be spayed until 6 months of age. While this was the recommendation several years ago, it is no longer recommended to wait until a dog or cat is 6 months of age to spay. In fact, early spaying and neutering is being routinely performed at animal shelters throughout the United States as early as 6 to 8 weeks of age without ill effects. Current research shows that early spay/neuter can cause more developmental and health effects on dogs than waiting until they are physically mature. The fact that the county is promoting the opposite does not inspire confidence. The CRITICAL meeting with the commissioners is the afternoon of Sept 10th from 1-5pm at: Board of County Commissioners @ 315 Court Street, Clearwater 33756 on the 5th Floor. Phone: (727) 464-3377. You should plan to be there at 12:30 to fill out a speaking card. You do not have to speak if you don’t want, but filing out a comment card carries a huge weight. You can also bring written remarks, and submit them without speaking. If you cannot make the meeting, you can still submit your remarks to the council, or someone who is going can submit them for you. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific about the time. It appears that our agenda item would be towards the beginning of the meeting, but I can’t promise…at any rate, the cards do need to be turned in before the meeting starts. “Citizens’ Comments” Will Follow Each Presentation Any Person Wishing to Speak During the “Citizens’ Comments” Portion of the Work or Budget Information Session Agenda Must Have a Yellow Card Completed and Given to Staff at the Staff Table. The Chairman Will Call the Speakers, One by One, to the Podium to be Heard. Each Speaker May Speak up to Three (3) Minutes. Persons Who Have Been Authorized to Represent an Organization with Five (5) or More Members or a Group of Five (5) or More Persons Should Complete a Yellow Card, Submit it to Staff at the Table Located at the Front of the Board Room, and Should Limit Their Presentation to Ten (10) Minutes. It is Expected that Others in the Organization or Group Will Waive Their Time.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 02:33:50 +0000
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