Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, the Santa Clara County Supervisors voted to
rescind the extra day closure at the San Martin Animal Shelter.
This was due to an overwhelming response by a community that
rallied to the defense of its one-and-only animal shelter.
Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, the Santa Clara County Supervisors voted to rescind the extra day closure at the San Martin Animal Shelter. This was due to an overwhelming response by a community that rallied to the defense of its one-and-only animal shelter.
The shelter is far from being safe, however, as Supervisor Donald Gage stated in the Aug. 24 edition of the Dispatch that this is “only a one-year fix” from deconstructing the shelter entirely.
This community needs an animal shelter that has the continual capacity to provide sanctuary for animals – a shelter that provides life-saving and life-giving care for unwanted, abandoned, abused and neglected animals. Not only is this clearly indicated in the Santa Clara County commissioned Animal Needs Assessment Study completed in May of 2004, which recommends the relocation and enlargement of the animal shelter facility, but it is also very clearly indicated by the magnitude of support from the citizens of Santa Clara County – and beyond.
Please continue the momentum for the animals and write, fax, call, or e-mail the following individuals:
n Please ask Mr. Greg Van Wassenhove and County Executive Peter Kutras to reinstate Phillip Jewitt as Animal Control Program manager at the San Martin Animal Shelter and to increase staff in order to continue to provide care and services for the animals at the shelter.
n Please ask Mr. Greg Van Wassenhove to refocus his efforts towards animal care by implementing effective spay/neuter programs, developing sound action plans to increase adoption rates and to decrease euthanasia rates, and, very importantly, dedicating himself to the construction and implementation of the new San Martin Animal Shelter.
n Please ask Supervisor Donald Gage to meet with Gilroy and Morgan Hill representatives to address universal animal care for all of south Santa Clara County and to combine these efforts in the relocation and construction of the new San Martin Animal Shelter.
Evon Dumesnil, Morgan Hill
