Pet adoption push barking up right tree
Published 9:19am Thursday, January 19, 2012Finding Frisky or Fido a new home is the focus of a potential partnership between the Lawrence County Animal Shelter and a local pet lover.
Private citizen Cyndi Anderson recently approached the Lawrence County Commissioners and dog warden Bill Click about a partnership that would create a website and other publicity efforts all designed to help the shelter find homes for its animals before they are euthanized.
The animal shelter is often filled well beyond capacity with sometimes as many as 90 animals brought in each week. Although the shelter does what it can to find homes for these dogs and cats, the reality is that many have to be put to sleep.
Of course, the best solution would be to address the root of the problem by encouraging and helping more pet owners to spay and neuter their animals. But the second component of that is to do everything possible to find homes for these animals.
The Tribune will lend a hand by resuming the publication of a “pet of the week” feature in its Sunday editions.
Since this partnership will have virtually no cost to taxpayers and concerned citizens like Anderson are willing to step up to the challenge of organizing this effort, this is a positive move for Lawrence County.
If even one animal can find a good home or one child can receive the pet he or she has always dreamed of, then this will be time well spent.
How about an additional fee for pets not nuetered.
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State of Maine—–
§3923-A. License and recording fees
Except as provided in subsection 3 and section 3923-C, a dog owner or keeper obtaining a license from a municipal clerk or dog recorder shall pay the license and recording fees established in this section.
1. Dogs capable of producing young. A dog owner or keeper shall pay a fee of $11 to the municipal clerk for each dog 6 months of age or older and capable of producing young.A dog is considered capable of producing young unless certification under subsection 2 is provided.
The municipal clerk shall retain a $1 recording fee and pay the remaining $10 to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.
2. Dogs incapable of producing young. A dog owner shall pay a fee of $6 to the municipal clerk or to a veterinary licensing agent for each dog 6 months of age or older and incapable of producing young. A dog is considered incapable of producing young when the owner provides the following:
A. A written certificate issued by a veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has neutered the dog;
B. A written certificate issued by a veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog and determined that the dog is incapable of producing young; or
C. A previous license stating that the dog is incapable of producing young.
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