Dear Editor,
Several months ago, I responded to District 1 Supervisor Gage’s
letter titled
”
Animal Shelter is old.
”
Yet, my questions remain unanswered.
Dear Editor,
Several months ago, I responded to District 1 Supervisor Gage’s letter titled “Animal Shelter is old.” Yet, my questions remain unanswered.
Perhaps, overcome by the Herculean task of deciding which county departments should be eliminated due to the “$201 million deficit,” Mr. Gage has not had the time to respond. Therefore, I will present my questions in a true/false answer format and Mr. Gage has only to circle his answers and send the completed form to the Dispatch, thus facilitating a response.
Mr. Gage has read every page of the 2004 Animal Services Needs Assessment Study. T or F
The San Martin Animal Shelter is not included in the Ten Year Capital Improvement Plan for Santa Clara County (www.sccgov.org). T or F
The San Martin Airport Expansion Master Plan includes replacing the animal shelter with a runway (Dispatch 04/25/06). T or F
Given that the county provides services to unincorporated residents only, when San Martin becomes incorporated, there will be no animal shelter in South County (Dispatch 08/22/06). T or F
Mr. Gage is working diligently on behalf of the abused, neglected, abandoned and homeless animals of South County and is doing everything possible to have the new animal shelter constructed as soon as possible. T or F
Mr. Gage has read the Second Quarter 2006 Status Report, including the statistics that indicate the increasing numbers of euthanasias at the San Martin Shelter (www.sccgov.org). T or F
Euthanasia is not the solution to the pet overpopulation problem. T or F
The Hayden Law, a set of requirements for the care and treatment of animals held in shelters, states that “shelters should aggressively promote spay and neuter programs to reduce pet overpopulations”. T or F
The San Martin Animal Shelter “does not have the money or equipment to perform many life saving procedures.” (www.fosmas.org – www.fosmas.org). T or F
Mr. Gage stated that a
24-hour emergency animal care clinic is “part of providing services to South County that we certainly deserve. I’m going to keep working to get what we need.” (Dispatch 03/01/06). T or F
The Hayden Law states that “shelters should be open during hours that permit working pet owners to redeem pets during nonworking hours.” T or F
According to the California Public Records Act, every person has the right to inspect any public record; therefore, all records kept at the San Martin Animal Shelter are open to inspection by the public at all times. T or F
The Hayden Law makes shelters “accountable to pet owners and the public for records and the care of animals in their possession.” T or F
Mr. Gage has adopted all of his pets from the San Martin Animal Shelter. T or F
As Mr. Gage has stated that the county is “not obligated under the state mandate to provide services to city residents …” (Dispatch 08/24/06); there will be universal animal care services for all of South County when hell freezes over. T or F
Evon Dumesnil, Morgan Hill
