Dear Apple Valley,
I am writing to bring to your attention a critical issue concerning the management policy of our local animals by the city of Apple Valley. The implementation of the leash law on cats contributes to thousands of needless deaths and hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted annually. We are deeply concerned about the trap-and-kill approach currently being utilized.
TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) is not only efficient but more cost effective:
- AVAS annual budget is 2.4 M
- 3469 cats and 5097 dogs were taken to AVAS in 2023
- cost for each animal = budget / intake = $280
- With TNVR implemented, the cost the county pays to get each cat is around $100 (based on observation of nearby areas).
We call upon the city council to swiftly address the deficiencies in animal care services provided by the Apple Valley Animal Shelter by:
- Implementing TNVR and low cost spaying and neutering programs to effectively manage cat populations.
- Updating the existing leash laws to exempt cats.
- Ensuring full disclosure of all shelter animals on the website during the intake process, including photos and basic information, to enable the community to monitor their status and facilitate adoptions.
- Distributing daily euthanasia lists for both cats and dogs to rescues and the community to increase transparency and aid rescue efforts.
- Allowing volunteers access to the receiving and holding area of the shelter to capture photos and videos of animals, enhancing their visibility and chances of adoption. - Providing proper medical care to all shelter animals to ensure their well-being. - Promoting cat adoption by ceasing the euthanasia of cats in non-adoptable areas when there are available spaces.
The urgency of the situation demands immediate action to improve the animal services the city provides.
We appreciate your attention to these urgent matters and look forward to positive actions from the city council to improve the welfare of animals in our local community. We look forward to supporting the re-elections of those who support these logical reforms to save innocent lives and taxpayer money.
Thanks,
- Alex