Tail?Talk
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[By Julie Gangloff
On December 3, 2008 I wrote Tail Talk about a program offered through the State of Illinois for low cost spay and neuters to people that normally could not afford to have these services for their animals. The part of the program that impressed me the most was that it was not funded by our tax dollars but receives revenue from various sources including Pet Friendly license plate fees, fines collected from animal control agencies under the Animal Control Act, and voluntary contributions. The program came about in memory of Anna Cieslewicz, who was attacked and killed by stray dogs in 2002 while jogging in Chicago's Dan Ryan Woods. The act was introduced as a means to protect the public safety by decreasing the number of dangerous dogs, stray dogs and feral cat populations throughout the state.
The Pet Population Control fund was established in 2006 and provides Illinois residents that receive food stamps or Social Security disability with a way to obtain low cost spay or neuter surgery and rabies vaccines for their household pets. By law, the money in the fund may not be used for any purposes other than animal sterilization/vaccination and public education on the importance of these procedures.
HB 5689, sponsored by Rep. John Cavaletto, will change the name of the fund to the Pet Overpopulation Control Fund; but more importantly, it will defeat the intent of the original Pet Population Control Fund by diverting its funds, specifically earmarked for pet population control, into the general animal control fund, which is used for all costs associated with the day-to-day operations of animal control agencies. This bill will also wipe out funding for feral cat spay and neuter.
If HB 5689 is passed, accessibility and funding for spay/neuter and vaccination services will plummet. At this time, 140 Illinois veterinarians participate in providing low-cost spay/neuter services to their clients-including two from Randolph County, the Pet Population Control Fund provides the only support for these services. These vets will be forced to apply for grants, which then must be approved by both a volunteer board and the Director of Agriculture.
HB 5689 will derail a system that is working well and replace it with a maze of government red tape that will delay the delivery of services to Illinois residents, especially those of Randolph County. It will also cause undue hardship to animal welfare agencies and our veterinarians that are providing these services, Dr. Schupp of Chester and Dr. Allard of Sparta. The bill is currently before the Illinois House Agriculture Committee.
Our state representative, Dan Reitz, sits on the Illinois House Agriculture Committee. Please contact him today and ask that he oppose HB 5689, legislation that will hurt the Pet Population Control Fund and result in an increase in the number of homeless animals in our county/state.
128 A West Main Street
Sparta, Illinois 62286
Phone: (618) 443-5757
Fax: (618) 443-3800
We're making such progress in our dream to one day eliminate the need for animal shelters, that to stand by and do nothing would be unconscionable. It is up to us to stand tall and take care of the least of them among us, the shelter animals. And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.
Tickets are available for the silent auction, chicken dinner and dance for St. Patty's for Pets, March 13th at the Sparta VFW. A rousing good time will be had by all so don't miss it!