The Animal Control Committee.
This is definitely a committee assignment that is discussed the least amongst businesses, professionals and others within my peer groups in Robertson County. Yet, this committee has generated the most consistent discussion amongst constituents and has proven to be one of the more time-intensive committees I am apart of on the RCC. Make no mistake, I am not complaining, but I just find this interesting.
Hey, what other committee assignment would I get to discuss African Wildcats?
Not surprisingly, as you can imagine, we generally oversee Robertson County Animal Control. As with anything in government, it is not as simple as discussion and generating a budget. We were immediately immersed in some areas that I will be discussing in the coming weeks since we have been asked to tackle the task of sorting, sifting and formulating a plan of action based upon the safety of Animal Control employees while weighing enforcement of ordinances and laws in Robertson County.
Monthly Meeting -
At our Thursday, December 2, 2010, we were presented an interesting opportunity by Donna Wilkins and a collaborative effort by the Robertson County Players. Mrs. Wilkins is pursuing an effort with the PetSmart Charities
"Rescue Waggin'" effort. From their website:
Our Rescue Waggin' program is comprised of three parts:
A pet transport program: We relocate dogs and puppies from areas of high homeless-pet overpopulation (where they face almost certain euthanasia) to shelters in areas where adoptable dogs are in demand. This program operates under professionally-developed industry standards for originating and receiving shelters, spay/neuter and animal health practices and humane transport.
Capacity-building grants: This funding helps expand local spay and neuter services for dogs and cats and improve shelter facilities, operations and adoptions for agencies that send dogs and puppies on the transport vehicles.
Funding and professional consultation: This support helps improve shelter facilities and operations for participating animal-welfare agencies.
Our Animal Control struggles with finding a balance between meeting the needs in the community versus the need to foster adoptions of the animals. Meaning, far too many of our animals are euthanized.
This effort will help! Essentially, the effort is to private raise funds, labor and resources from the community to build additional kennels for this project since the requirements set forth would require animals eligible for this program to be set apart while being tended, and made ready for transport. What a tremendous opportunity we have here for this program, and it is such a great effort when private and public efforts work in a collaborative way.
If you would like to help, or would like to know more of this effort, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
