Post by michele5611 on Jun 5, 2013 10:41:08 GMT -5
www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/6/4/new_rule_lets_people.html#.Ua6YUo1ate4.twitter
TAVARES --
Lake County Commissioners unanimously passed a new animal services ordinance Tuesday that they say is designed to save animals.
But Wendy Vasquez, operator of Doggy Paws Rescue, urged against the policy, calling it "a death sentence for more animals."
The ordinance allows animals to be adopted without the shelter first spaying or neutering them.
The animal’s new owner has 30 days to prove it’s been done, or forfeit their deposit.
“If we can get them out the door with the understanding they will meet state law by getting them spayed or neutered, that serves sort of the same purpose,” Interim Lake County Compliance Director Jim Stivender said.
Arlynda Eckstein also runs a rescue operation.
“Our ultimate goal is to reduce the unwanted animal population and that’s very hard to do when you are releasing animals that are not neutered and spayed,” she said.
Eckstein is also worried about having to wait on deposits to be returned.
“Many rescues run on a shoe string budget, and that will not allow them to rescue as many animals. I’ve talked to many rescues that are going to pull out of here because they don’t want the headache,” she said.
Animal Services wants to make sure people know where they are. That’s why they just placed a flashing sign out on County Road 561, directing willing adopters to the entrance off Frankies Road.
But animal advocates say communication is the real issue. Last week 100 animals were euthanized. Operators say they would have been ready to rescue them had they only known the animal's time was up.
The new ordinance also puts into place fines for not properly licensing dogs, cats and ferrets. It’s $50 for a first offense, $150 for every offense after that. Owners have a one-year grace period to comply.
TAVARES --
Lake County Commissioners unanimously passed a new animal services ordinance Tuesday that they say is designed to save animals.
But Wendy Vasquez, operator of Doggy Paws Rescue, urged against the policy, calling it "a death sentence for more animals."
The ordinance allows animals to be adopted without the shelter first spaying or neutering them.
The animal’s new owner has 30 days to prove it’s been done, or forfeit their deposit.
“If we can get them out the door with the understanding they will meet state law by getting them spayed or neutered, that serves sort of the same purpose,” Interim Lake County Compliance Director Jim Stivender said.
Arlynda Eckstein also runs a rescue operation.
“Our ultimate goal is to reduce the unwanted animal population and that’s very hard to do when you are releasing animals that are not neutered and spayed,” she said.
Eckstein is also worried about having to wait on deposits to be returned.
“Many rescues run on a shoe string budget, and that will not allow them to rescue as many animals. I’ve talked to many rescues that are going to pull out of here because they don’t want the headache,” she said.
Animal Services wants to make sure people know where they are. That’s why they just placed a flashing sign out on County Road 561, directing willing adopters to the entrance off Frankies Road.
But animal advocates say communication is the real issue. Last week 100 animals were euthanized. Operators say they would have been ready to rescue them had they only known the animal's time was up.
The new ordinance also puts into place fines for not properly licensing dogs, cats and ferrets. It’s $50 for a first offense, $150 for every offense after that. Owners have a one-year grace period to comply.