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Animals and Customer Service to Suffer Up to 2,600 Animals to Lose Chance for Adoption
The Albuquerque City Council has proposed slashing $700,000 from the FY09 Animal Welfare Department (AWD) budget. The council’s proposed budget eliminates funding for a West side adoption center. Additional adoption counselors for the East side shelter would also be stricken from the budget—an improvement approved by voters last year. The budget proposal will be discussed at the council’s next public meeting on Monday, May 19. While budgets are tight and public funds must be spent wisely, it is crucial that the AWD budget be supported as proposed by the department. The city council’s plan to trim the budget by $700,000 will save the city only 1/10 of 1% of the entire city budget, yet may cost the lives of up to 2,600 dogs who will never have the chance to be adopted into homes. They will likely be euthanized. These budget cuts will also eliminate plans to improve customer service at the East side shelter. You are asked to urge the city council to save that 1/10 of 1% of the city budget without eradicating plans that directly impact the lives of thousands of animals, or improve chances of adoption. In particular, West side residents should contact Councilor Cadigan (505-768-3189 and maledo@cabq.gov) to ask why he wants to further delay opening a West side adoption center that could save the lives of 2,600 animals in his own back yard next year. Like other public health, safety and welfare-related departments in the city, the Albuquerque AWD deserves the vocal support of citizens. Every day, AWD employees face the reality of caring for hundreds of our city’s homeless animals, and they deserve the resources to do it humanely and professionally. In recent years, the administration and the city council have made it clear they support the humane treatment of animals in the city’s shelters and they’re willing to secure the necessary funds. Despite rumors to the contrary, of the 20 city departments supported by the city’s General Fund, nine of them are receiving increases in their budgets this year, and of those nine, six are increasing their budgets at a higher percentage than what the Animal Welfare Department requested. Please urge your city councilor not to tinker with the AWD budget, and to give our city shelters the resources they need to succeed for the benefit of the animals and the entire community. If you can attend the city council meeting on Monday, May 19, please do! You may have an opportunity to comment, and your presence is important. Thank you! Contact information for city councilors: City Council Meeting
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APNM's mission is to advocate the rights of animals by effecting systemic change, resulting in the humane treatment of all animals. Click to see our 2008 Initiatives and how we are making a difference for animals in New Mexico and beyond. Please make a secure, online donation to support our work.
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