A Rally is planned for the Save our Shelter Campaign this Thursday May 13th from 11:30am - 1:30pm in Niagara Square in front of City Hall. The protest committee asks that everyone that can attend please do so.

A few things we would ask everyone who is attending.

Please keep any signs and placard on a professional level. Pictures of your rescued pets with sayings such as "I found my best friend at the Buffalo Animal Shelter" or "Adoptions are revenue generating --- DUH!!!" or "SOS Save Our Shelter" are examples.

We encourage people to bring their pets, but please make sure that the animals you bring are totally socialized and comfortable in large groups and with other animals. Incidents of aggression will be detrimental to the message.

Keep the rally professional. No vulgarities or slurs. We must combat this on the level the city council will understand. Traditionally the Common Council has been very supportive of the shelter and the welfare of the animals housed there. 24 hours before the budget was announced, the common council members were putting a plan together that would benefit the animal population in the form of a low cost spay/neuter program, a push for increased licensing, plans to find ways to build a better facility using grants and non profit organizations, etc.

In order to stop the proposed cuts, we need to attack the three major areas: Financial issues, Public Safety issues and the image of the city.

I hope anyone that resides in Buffalo or surrounding areas will make plans to be there to protest the cuts to the adoption program and thus save the homeless animals in that area.

Clara