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July 19, 2010 (Regular Meeting) Page 52 Humane Society who cherry -picks animals and rescue groups who will not work together. None of these excuses however, have anything to do with the public shelter funded by our tax dollars. And, what the shelter is or is not doing to prevent the killing of eighty percent of the animals they impound, over twice the national average. The problem is not the rescue groups. While they are a big part of the solution, it is not their responsibility to subsidize a public shelter and do their job for them. The problem is not the Humane Society. While they may be able to do better or do more, it is not their responsibility either. The cliches of irresponsible public or pet overpopulation simply do not stand up under scrutiny. The number one indicator of the success or failure of a shelter is absolutely the commitment of the leadership to life saving programs and services. If you are not implementing the proven cost - effective life - saving programs of a "no kill" equation that have ended shelter killing in over fifty communities across the United States including counties just like ours. How would you even know if there was a so called pet overpopulation? How do we look at those numbers right now? If pet overpopulation or the irresponsible public is the real problem, in your opinion, then how is Reno, Nevada "no kill ", despite a shelter intake far greater than most places anywhere in this country? Why is the "no kill" working in rural communities, metropolitan communities, rich communities, poor communities that spend much less per capita on animal control than we do here in Cabarrus County? This is the only system that has ended the killing of healthy adoptable animals in shelters. Any other piecemeal solutions will not end the killing. Therefore, you cannot make the statement that you are on the side of saving animals. It takes proactive programs and services. Proactive programs and services, I might add, that save money both in the long run and in the short term. It is the reactive policies that we have in place or lack of policies right now, that are causing this problem and driving costs up. We are not solving any problems. We are not even defining it correctly. Without total reform, we will just continue to impound animals, round them up and send them to a cruel and painful death in the gas chamber. Nothing will change, shelter intake will rise, the killing will rise and the budget will rise. That is, until the community becomes aware or reaches a point where they have had enough. They see the failure for what it is, a lack of compassion and a lack of leadership. Well that time is now. The residents, tax payers and voters of this county want change. We want change that should have been sought without having to resort to public outcry. We want leadership that looks for proactive solutions and looks for the best practices of shelters across the country. We want the only change that has ever succeeded in ending shelter killing. That is the "no kill" equation. Tracie Faircloth, resident of 4987 Hawfield Street in Kannapolis, addressed the use of the gas chamber in the Cabarrus County Animal Shelter. She urged the Board to consider changing the euthanasia of animals to lethal injection. She stated lethal injection is far more humane, safer for workers and more cost effective than the gas chamber. She also spoke in favor of implementing the "no kill" equation. She urged the Board to adopt and implement the Animal Protection Act, a shelter reform law that will bring the Cabarrus County Animal Shelter in line with progressive communities around the country. Brian Romans, resident of 510 Wiley Avenue in Salisbury, stated he became involved in Justice for Bella when he first heard about the incident. He stated companion animals are being killed by the thousands in Cabarrus County. He expressed concern for training of animal control officers. He begged the Board to change what is broken and fix the animal shelter situation. Susan Boyer, resident of 246 Shoreline Loop in Mooresville, stated she works in animal control in Charlotte, N.C. and is a certified veterinarian technician as well as a certified euthanasia by injection EBI Technician. After reviewing her career accomplishments in animal control dating back to the early 1980's, she discussed the process of converting from gas chamber euthanasia to lethal injection euthanasia and its affect on employee morale. She also expressed concern for animal shelter employees that have to use the gas chamber. Further, she stated after taking time off, she returned to work in 2005 at a new facility where animals that are adopted out are fully