One letter writer outlines how to really help abandoned animals,
while another outlines a City Hall that doesn’t have a clue on
curtailing spending
Best Way to Help Stray Animals is Clear – Keep the Populations Under Control
Dear Editor,
It is estimated that 5 to 10 million stray dogs and cats live on the streets throughout the United States. Approximately 55 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats that end up in shelter facilities in the U.S. are killed. Every year, 6 to 8 million dogs and cats die in shelters across America because there are no homes for them.
It is time for all of us to do what we can to end the incalculable suffering of these unwanted, lost and homeless dogs and cats:
n Support Assembly Bill 1634/The California Healthy Pet Act, which is designed to save lives. Please visit www.cahealthypets.com to learn more about this crucial reform.
n Support the Santa Clara County Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program. Please encourage your city officials to allocate funds for spay/neuter services in their districts. City of Gilroy (408) 846-0400; City of Morgan Hill (408) 779-7271.
n Support Town Cats of Morgan Hill. Visit www.towncats.org or call (408) 779-5761 for a list of spay/neuter clinics for cats & dogs and for feral/wild cat information. Please add your name to the Town Cats sponsored web petition that asks the Gilroy City Council and the Morgan Hill City Council to save the Santa Clara County Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program.
n Contact your veterinarian today and make an appointment to spay/neuter your pet.
n Contact St. Francis of Assisi Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic in San Martin. Please call (408) 683-0866. Tuesday and Wednesday surgeries. Spay fee $40/ Neuter fee is $20.00.
n Contact Santa Clara County Animal Control for a list of low-cost spay/neuter clinics and information. (800) 215-2555, press 6 for cat information, press 7 for dog information.
n Contact Peninsula Fix Our Ferals for information on safe trapping and transporting of feral/wild cats for spay/neuter and other medical treatment. Call (650) 261-6665 or visit www.peninsulafixourferals.org
n Report “backyard breeders” and puppy/kitten “mills” to your local authorities. Reckless breeding is among the worst forms of animal abuse and directly contributes to the pet overpopulation crisis. Do not purchase dogs/cats/puppies/kittens from pet stores, or over the Internet. Get the facts on puppy/kitten mills from the Humane Society of the United States website at www.hsus.org or call (202) 452-1100.
n Adopt your next pet from an animal shelter, animal rescue organization, Humane Society facility, SPCA facility or animal foster group. Please give them a home.
Adopt a pet and save a life today. Spay/neuter your pet and save a life tomorrow.
Evon Dumesnil, Morgan Hill
Nobody on the City Council Looking Out For the Poor Taxpayers in Gilroy
Dear Editor,
Good thing that picture of the Virginia Tech officers rescuing the injured lay below that headline “Deadliest Rampage”. Otherwise, I would have thought “Deadly Rampage” was part of the headline referring to “City Raises Pay”.
That pay-raise ploy by the City Council merely illustrates an age-old adage: “A well-organized minority (the administration) can readily control an unorganized majority (taxpayers)”.
It’s tough to be a taxpaying citizen in Gilroy and have no one looking out for your interests or your pocketbook.
Let’s cut taxes by the same percentage as was the city pay raise; it’s our only recourse to justice.
J. G. McCormack, Gilroy
