They just don't get it. :(
Posted on April 20, 2004
Plan to fix pets fails in county
By Baker Maultsby | Staff Writer
[email protected]
Spartanburg County Council voted down a recommendation to spend about $17,000 on a program that would subsidize the spaying and neutering of pets.
The money is part of a federal Community Development Block Grant.
Spartanburg County's Community Development department recommended using a portion of the $2.5 million grant to help poor families alter their pets.
The grant money is being spent to improve housing and infrastructure in targeted communities such as Una and Arkwright.
Councilmen David Britt and Jeff Horton voted in favor of spending the money. Steve Parker, Frank Nutt Rock Adams, Johnnye Code Stewart and Ken Huckaby voted against the idea.
Britt argued vigorously in favor of the plan, which would have enabled Animal Allies, a nonprofit organization, to help needy families with the $50 cost of the surgery to alter animals.
Later, he said, "I think it was a bad decision. We could have spayed and neutered 350 cats and dogs. First, we've got to admit there's a problem. And this was part of a solution to a problem."
Betsy Boxer, Animal Allies executive director, predicted that Monday's vote would cost the council money in the long run in animal control expenses.
It will cost her organization, too.
Boxer said Animal Allies had been promised $15,000 in private matching dollars if the County Council had given the organization a portion of the block grant.
Stewart said she believes spaying and neutering is "a worthwhile plan," but explained that she "would
rather see (the money) spent on parks and recreation."
Britt said he's not sure the federal government will allow the block grant funds to be spent on parks and recreation.
Several members of the audience cheered the council's vote.
Bob Scott said his opposition to the plan is a matter of priority. Government money, he said, should be spent on "anything except animals."
Two other opponents of the spay-and-neuter plan would not identify themselves.
One woman charged that Animal Allies is a "radical" organization that aims to wipe out pet ownership altogether.
"They want a petless, meatless society," Scott said.
Baker Maultsby can be reached at 562-7425 or [email protected].
