Note: You can read the full text of our letter to the Committee on Appropriations by visiting www.barringtonpaw.org (mobile phone users may need to use the URL: m.barringtonpaw.org.) You can also e-mail us at info@barringtonpaw.org and we will be happy to send a copy of the letter directly to you.
For fiscal year 2018-2019, the new Barrington, RI Town Manager has recommended a $5,000 (36%) budget DECREASE to the town's animal control budget. The Committee on Appropriations, charged with putting forth a recommended budget to the town for a vote at the May Financial Town Meeting accepted this recommendation and included it in their draft budget. On April 9th the committee will meet to further discuss the line item budget and on April 11th will vote on its final recommended numbers. The town does not have a shelter and uses this budget line item to house and care for found and stray animals at local veterinary hospitals. The budget as it stood before the cuts did not support all animal care needs. Barrington PAW, a private, volunteer non-profit has augmented funds (more than $125,000 over the past 10 years) and has rallied thousands of hours of volunteer time to make certain there are sufficient resources to provide strong safety nets and support positive outcomes for animals in town.
By way of town history, it is important to note that prior to 2006, the Town of Barrington had the highest euthanasia rate in the state of Rhode Island. Tremendous efforts on the part of the animal control division (under the leadership of the town's police chief) coupled with tireless efforts on the part of volunteers resulted in changes in practices and protocols that reversed the negative outcomes and have saved hundreds of lives. Dozens of animals have been reunited with owners and hundreds of strays have found their way to new homes. The $5,000 cut is truly insignificant in the grand scheme of the Town's $75million budget. It does nothing to balance the budget or reduce rising tax rates. But, the cut could have a devastating impact on the momentum and improvements made to date, unnecessarily placing animals at risk.
Barrington Partnership for Animal Welfare has respectfully requested that the Committee on Appropriations reverse this recommendation and put forth a budget proposal that includes full funding of the animal control line at its original $14,000 amount. It is important to note that unlike most town budget line items, this amount has not increased in nearly a decade. You can read the full text of our letter on our home page at www.barringtonpaw.org (mobile phone users may need to access the page via m.barringtonpaw.org.)
We are asking that Barrington residents sign this petition indicating their support of our request. We have VERY little time to gather signatures as we will be presenting this information to the committee at its meeting on April 9th. Please sign and forward along to friends, relatives and neighbors in town right away! The animals are counting on you!!
Any questions? Just e-mail info@barringtonpaw.org and a volunteer will get right back to you to discuss in more detail! Thank you for caring.
