July 17, 2012 was a big day for Miami Dade County and for animal welfare organizations but most of all for the homeless animals. Miami Dade County’s Board of Commissioners voted to allow residents to decide on the future of our animals. This means that on November 6th, residents will have the opportunity to decide whether they are in support of a small increase in property taxes to save animal lives.
The Pet’s Trust is the initiative driving this change. Through a small increase in taxes, the Pets’ Trust will create a dedicated source of funding for pet retention, spay/neuter and other low cost educational programs.
- Dedicated funding source to save lives and promote responsible dog ownership programs
You might be wondering what a “small” increase will really be. “Small” is such a relative term.
On average, about 34,000 dogs and cats are abandoned our County’s shelter. This, based on our current modus operandi costs the community about $298 per animal. If the Pets’ Trust initiative is passed, it would cost the average property owner $20 per year and for that we’d get:
- Two facilities which would provide low cost veterinary care and 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries per year
- Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs to contain and reduce the feral cat populations throughout the county (stray cat population estimated at over 400,000)
- Educational targeted programs for adults and children on responsible ownership
- Campaigns that promote adoption, spay/neuter and life-long pet retention of pets
Shall I keep going? Heck take my $20. Increase my property taxes, my electricity bill and my dog treat bill!! That’s all it would take? Click here to check out the Miami Herald’s coverage and to hear what Michel Rosenberg, president of Pets’ Trust has to say.
Essentially it would increase your property tax bill by .5¢ a day and potentially convert Miami Dade Animal Services into a no-kill facility. That’s a small price to pay for that. This week the Pets’ Trust had their kick-off campaign at the Biltmore Hotel and I was in attendance.
- Founder of Miami Veterinary Coalition’s PUP E Program and President of Spay Neuter Miami Foundation
It was a great evening filled with hopeful, active people that want to help make a difference in the way we treat our animals.
I urge everyone who votes in Miami Dade County to vote yes on the ballot question asking to “improve increased Animal Services,” as it will bring about necessary changes and make a world of a difference to the animals that have no voice.
