Animals will be the biggest losers
As I looked through my camera lens recently at each of the wonderful animals who are temporarily housed at the Humane Society of Yuma, a sadness came over me. I realized that these innocent, voiceless beings are the ones who will ultimately suffer if the city/county open a pound.
Just to clear the air, my husband and I are volunteers at HSOY, so we have no self-interest, just interest in the animals. Yes, I don’t like that my taxes will have a HUGE increase, but these animals have absolutely no say in what happens to them. They trust us humans to make the right decisions for them.
I have volunteered for a national breed-specific animal rescue group for 10-plus years and sadly the animals that are in city/county pounds are poorly treated and these pounds do NOT work well with animal rescue groups. It saddens (and scares) me to think what is going to happen to all of the lost/abandoned animals in Yuma. I have not heard about any plans the city/county have for the animals, such as, are they going to have an adoption floor for them to have a second chance at a forever home? Will they run a low-cost spay/neuter clinic? Will they have on-site veterinarians to immediately treat injured animals that are brought into the pound, or are those animals going to be automatically put to death? What about senior dogs/cats, will going to the pound be a death sentence?
Another question: Why did the city of Yuma/Yuma County suddenly decide that they want to build their own pound? They have had decades to do this, but are proposing this only a few short months after the new HSOY facility opened. HSOY volunteers/donors have worked tirelessly for several years to save up thousands of dollars (not tax dollars) for a new shelter. To propose a city/county pound is truly a slap in the face.
Lastly, my BIGGEST question of all: Why do the city of Yuma and Yuma County insist on going backwards in animal welfare? I am baffled! I think every animal lover out there would agree that this is NOT progress.
Tony & Karen Ortiz
Yuma
