Our View: No-kill policy laudable, risky

In a perfect world, we would not have to kill unwanted dogs and cats. In case it is not painfully clear every day, this is not a perfect world.

Yet, in the midst of an ongoing funding crisis, the Manatee County Commission unanimously adopted a no-kill policy for its animal shelters, enacting a goal of adopting or “fostering” 90% of all dogs and cats that go into shelters by December 2012.

No-kill is laudable. Anyone who has had to put down a pet knows the emotional struggle. And while most of the animals euthanized are unwanted pets, it is still a shame. We don’t envy the people who have to do this on a daily basis.

We hope the program works as billed. But it could come back to bite commissioners.

It was sold in part on the idea that it would save money for taxpayers by ultimately having fewer animals sheltered and fewer feral animals. That will take an incredible amount of buy-in and sets up the county for potentially more expenses. Time will ultimately tell, but we would not have encouraged this step now.
However, while we have concerns about taking on such a venture in the midst of more pressing issues, the way the county and commission went about the plan is commendable.

First, the idea is to get animals into foster homes and adopted homes quickly, using education and grass-roots mouth-to-mouth. The county’s private, non-profit animal shelters, pet organizations and many of its veterinarians are on board with trying to make this work. Their voluntary cooperation is imperative.

Second, there is the plan to catch and release feral cats. This is humane, but it will take more effort to trap them, then spay or neuter them. Unless that is all done voluntarily, that means more county expense.
The approach has been far less top-down than most government work, and that alone suggests hope for its success.

Honor Sanctuary in East County is one of the key private operators that will be part of this, and its mission seems to fit in concert with what the county is trying to accomplish.

And there is the question of neighbors of the animal shelters. Several neighbors have spoken out, complaining of dogs barking all through the night. They fear the new policy will mean more dogs, which will in turn mean more noise.

If either the program costs the county more money or it ends up with more barking dogs at shelters — both of which would mean it is not working as intended — we hope the commissioners will move swiftly to correct it.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a major supporter of the policy, said she would re-evaluate the program if it ends up costing taxpayers extra money.

But if it does work, and it saves taxpayers money and limits the number of dogs and cats being killed, then it will be a job well done.