While animal activists continue to hammer Sumter County commissioners over their demand for a no-kill shelter, the county is quietly making progress in reducing the number of animals euthanized at the county shelter.
Commissioners Tuesday night scheduled a public hearing at their Dec. 12 meeting on a feral cat program to trap, neuter and vaccinate the cats before returning them to their neighborhoods. The program, planned to take effect in January, is expected to reduce the number of cats euthanized.
The number of dogs and cats killed in October at the county shelter was down considerably from prior months. Eight dogs and 21 cats were euthanized, about 16 percent of the 184 animals received by the shelter, according to a monthly report from the Animal Services Department.
In September, 18 dogs and 49 cats were killed, about 34 percent of the 199 animals received.
The feral cat program is based on a similar program in Jacksonville, which County Administrator Bradley Arnold and local Humane Society/SPCA officials visited this fall. The current county policy is to kill feral cats within 24 hours if they don’t have chips or other identification.
A problem with the feral cat program is that no local veterinarians have submitted credentials to participate in the program. Arnold said the county will review other options, including an offer from Jacksonville to supply veterinarians.
The county partners with the Sumter County Humane Society/SPCA to put animals up for adoption.
A no-kill shelter is defined as saving 90 percent of the animals received and Commissioner Steve Printz said he supports that goal.
“It’s about results,” he said. “It’s not about what you call it. I am committed to achieve that 90 percent live release rate.”
While the county shelter does not allow volunteers, Printz encouraged people to volunteer with the Humane Society.
The county shelter now allows escorted tours for up to three people on Thursdays.
Despite the county’s progress and Printz’s comments, the activists continued their adversarial approach at Tuesday’s meeting.
Angie Fox of Lost Pets of the Villages blasted the Humane Society partnership, claiming there is no written agreement.
“We’re desperately in need of a safe place to take our pets,” she said.
Joann Kelly of The Villages criticized the county shelter.
“I have never seen such a deplorable state of conditions for the animals,” she said.
Other speaker criticized the county’s no-volunteer policy and pointed out that Lake and Marion counties operate no-kill shelters. They also said too many Sumter County animals are diagnosed with parvovirus or mange to provide excuses to kill them.