People who want Maricopa Co to stop euthanasia at the shelter (Mesa: home, neighborhoods)

[AZgarden]

So, a couple of former volunteers are mad that healthy animals are being put to sleep. They are picketing outside the Mesa Maricopa Animal Care and Control shelter saying Dr. Rodrigo needs to go. I say,as a former volunteer there, that if you want to take all those cats and dogs home with you, go ahead. The shelters are full. They are always full. It is sad, but what is the choice? The county has a responsible program to take in stray and unwanted animals so what else can they do? They need to feed, spay or neuter, and care for each animal in their care. Its an overwhelming responsibility. There isn't enough $. Got a better idea?

[DetroitN8V]

Mandatory spay and neuter is the only answer and even then, good luck having it enforced. They should be picketing outside of all the backyard breeders instead.

[CodyW]

The people at the county do the best they can with the resources they have, which sadly isn't very much. It is sad, but there's not much else to be done. I feel for the animals, and the folks who have to do it. No need for picketing, there really isn't another feasible option.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by CodyW

The people at the county do the best they can with the resources they have, which sadly isn't very much. It is sad, but there's not much else to be done. I feel for the animals, and the folks who have to do it. No need for picketing, there really isn't another feasible option.

Actually, there is something that can be done.. many cities in the valley contribute animals, but not $$ to the shelter.

"
If you see a stray dog in your neighborhood and do not have him in your control, please call (602) 506-PETS(7387) so our Animal Control Officers can come out and look for the dog. If you have found a stray in Peoria, Surprise, El Mirage, Youngtown, Avondale, Mesa, Buckeye, or Wickenburg, please call your local police department.*"

I found a stray in Youngtown a couple years back.. animal control wouldnt pick him up, and the PD *told* me to take the dog to the county shelter.

[Xica_da_Silva]

In my neighborhood (Coronado Historic District), we've been dealing with this issue for a while, but I think we're making some progress:

Coronado has it's own Facebook page in which people are posting pics of strays- several of these have been re-united with their owners. Perhaps other neighborhoods are already starting to do this but I wanted to share; I've received a wealth of knowledge regarding things happening in the neighborhood beyond anything I'd imagined- e.g. handyman recommendations, events, etc.

There's also been discussion here about a volunteer group who would fix broken fences/gates if allowed by the pet's owner. I believe there's already a capture-spay-release volunteer group as well. Sadly, I believe a lot of the problem may be people just dumping/abandoning pets...not a lot that can be done about that.

[PhureeKeeper]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

Actually, there is something that can be done.. many cities in the valley contribute animals, but not $$ to the shelter.

"
If you see a stray dog in your neighborhood and do not have him in your control, please call (602) 506-PETS(7387) so our Animal Control Officers can come out and look for the dog. ....

You're promoting that the dogs go right back to the county shelter, which is an almost guaranteed death sentence.

Giving money to the MACC will help them cope, but parents and kids need to be educated that it's not OK to throw away an animal, they are a lifelong responsbility. (and spay/neuter!)

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by PhureeKeeper

You're promoting that the dogs go right back to the county shelter, which is an almost guaranteed death sentence.

Giving money to the MACC will help them cope, but parents and kids need to be educated that it's not OK to throw away an animal, they are a lifelong responsbility. (and spay/neuter!)

Im not promoting anything (and the stray I found, I kept!), but if the county shelter is running on a shoestring budget, and several cities arent paying anything (but are advising residents to drop strays there), then we have a problem.