Farrar Calls on Shelters to Kill Fewer Dogs, Cats

HOUSTON, May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Local residents seeking to reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized by Houston animal shelters received a potential boost this month, as State Representative Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) filed legislation to introduce "no kill" standards to animal shelters statewide. Houston shelters put down roughly 80,000 dogs and cats each year, according to Bett Sundermeyer of No Kill Houston, an animal advocacy group. The City of Austin, which adopted similar standards in 2008, claims to save 92 percent of animals that pass through its facilities.

The Texas Companion Animal Protection Act (CAPA) takes aim at practices that advocates say lead to unnecessary killing of animals: insufficient efforts to spay or neuter animals, deficient record-keeping, and failure to work collaboratively with animal rescue groups. "There is little sense in Texas shelters killing animals at taxpayer expense, when private non-profit rescue organizations are willing to spend their own money to save them," Sundermeyer said. "Citizens of Texas have a right to have their tax dollars spent wisely. They have a right to see that their money is being used for the purpose it was intended to achieve: namely, to save animals and not to kill them."

State law in California and Delaware already reflects the standards of the "no kill" movement. Other localities to adopt such standards include Reno, Nevada and Marquette, Michigan.

Representative Farrar explained her decision to file the legislation: "I represent a district where dogs and cats are in charge of many of the households. I respect the work of our local shelters, but I think there are reasonable steps that can be taken to reduce the number of animals that have to be killed."

Sundermeyer, summing up prospects for the legislations, noted that "CAPA saves the lives of animals, it ensures that tax dollars are spent wisely, and it enhances public health and safety. It is a good public policy that has proven very popular in other states, with support that spans the political spectrum. People of all walks of life want to protect pets."

Farrar's legislation has been referred to the Texas House Committee on Public Health for further consideration.

About No Kill Houston

We are a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to bringing the successful No Kill model of sheltering to Houston, Texas. Houston has five "kill shelters" that kill 80,000 pets per year. The programs mandated within Texas CAPA i.e. H.B. 3450 have proven to be successful in other communities. That is why we are advocating that this legislation is passed in Texas as well.

CONTACT:  

Bett Sundermeyer
(713) 291-1710

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SOURCE No Kill Houston