Dear Voting Members, Rhode Island Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture:
Often within our society many become distant or detatched as a means to gain momentum in their numerous tasks and responsibilities. No one could ever honestly state that each of you have an easy and laid back job of it, and this petition is aimed at ensuring that you will never be accused of being jaded or distant regarding local issues requiring your actions. Today, we the undersignedI needed to take a stand in order to attempt to speak up for some who cannot speak but who have served in a position of great duty and responsibility--some who require your actions to ensure they are not put to death. Today, we speak of companion animals and their right as living beings to continue simply living when circumstances cause separation from their humans.
2011 - S 0091 Is modeled after similar legislation (Companion Animal Protection Act variations) in several states, already. Its purpose is not to overextend resources, but rather to simply employ a few basic options to avoid killing for the sake of convenience.
2011 - S0091 provides for very simple measures--steps shelter staff should take prior killing an animal in their care. The bill would make it illegal for shelters in Rhode Island to kill animals if rescue groups are willing to save them, and unless and until:
- The holding period for the animal has expired; and
- There are no empty cages, kennels or other living environments in the shelter suitable for the animal; and
- A foster home is not available through another municipal or private animal shelter or Rhode Island incorporated animal organization; and
- Another municipal or private animal shelter or Rhode Island incorporated animal organization is unwilling to accept the animal; and
- The animal care or control manager of the animal shelter has certified that the above conditions have been met and that he/she has no other reasonable alternative
It's a pretty short list of safeguards, isn't it? Wouldn't you hope that at least five simple alternatives were investigated prior to a person taking a life into their hands, and ending said life unnaturally?
Even in areas under your care, the practice of convenience killings is, unfortunately, common. Often times, animals are exterminated even when there is still a cage available, even when the animal has no immediate health issues, even when they're well socialized and friendly and easily adoptable.
The reasoning often used by shelter staff for this break in the publicly represented protocol can be something so simple as too many of a similar shade/ color/ pattern/ or breed. Often times, killing the animal has nothing to do with shelter hold time limits or even the apparent health or lack of health of an animal now placed in their care. Often times, disposing of this life can be authorized simply because a shelter staff/volunteer is heading into a longer shift, or because there is a 'bump' in the process of scheduling staff due to family illness, vacations, or holidays. This practice is not easily shared with the public. Many citizens are totally unaware. Unfortunately, lack of public awareness does not mean anything to the animals that are killed 'just because'.
Convenience killings are unfortunately way too common.
Please vote yes on 2011 - S 0091
Please require, by law, that a few simple steps be carried out--five small steps that could save a life be followed--before an animal who just needs a family is killed.
Thank you so very much for your time and attention to this matter.
