MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Editorials

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May 14, 2009

Compromise on strays

We’re glad to see that city officials worked out an agreement with Coins 4 Critters for rescuing stray animals. Muskogee continues to have problem with controlling strays, and it will take the city and community groups working together to solve it.

The city implemented a new policy that required all animals to be spayed and neutered before leaving the Animal Shelter. Dog adoptions through the shelter now cost $90, cats $70.

Coins 4 Critters is a local organization that rescues pets from shelters and assists residents in getting their pets spayed or neutered. If Coins 4 Critters was subject to the new policy, that would severely limit the number of animals the group could rescue.

But the city agreed to allow Coins 4 Critters to rescue animals from the shelter for $25 and find homes for them after having them spayed and neutered. It’s a good deal for the city because it receives some income for the pets and the city is spared the costs of additional care or having to euthanize those not adopted.

Despite new policies at the shelter and a licensing law, Muskogee still has a problem with strays. As of early May, the Animal Shelter had euthanized 363 animals this year. The shelter had to euthanize 1,575 last year. The city can use all the help it can get from Coins 4 Critters to keep wandering animals off streets.

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