PEORIA -- Policies that will lead to an improved animal shelter in Peoria continued to move forward, as the Peoria County Board's Management Services Committee approved a resolution at its Jan. 26 meeting.
The resolution includes significant goals:- Fewer animals coming into the shelter.
- More redemptions, adoptions and placements.
- Less euthanized animals.
- More spay/neutering programs.
Board member Andrew Rand, an advocate for better programs and policies, spoke to the committee. "This is a powerful moment for all of us. There is massive awareness about the size of this problem" and the numbers of animals euthanized at the shelter, he said. "It should be the goal of this board to get it to zero."
He continued, "we have the opportunity to do an even better job in reducing unwanted and uncared-for animals."
The county's next step is to set up job descriptions based on the policies approved by the committee, county administrator Patrick Urich said. "How do you staff this and the next question is how do we pay for it?" he asked.
The committee set Feb. 10 as a tentative date for the next special meeting for shelter issues including revenue sources.
The city of Peoria recently abandoned responsibility for the animal shelter, and the county is taking over its operations. Under the city's management, more than 5,000 animals are killed yearly at the shelter. It takes in more than 7,000 animals.-- Elaine Hopkins
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