Solution to Delco animal crisis?

We actually broke a little news on our ‘Live From the Newsroom’ Internet live-stream last night.


Our guest was County Councilman Mario Civera, who has been hip deep in trying to find a solution to the looming animal control crisis in the county, with the SPCA vowing to get out of the business as of July 1.



Civera announced that there was a possible solution, a partnership with Dinah’s Way, a Chester County-based nonprofit animal welfare network that would operate out of a facility to be constructed on a tract owned by the Darby Creek Joint Authority near the County Emergency Services Training Center off Calcon Hook Road in Darby Township.


You can read Paul Luce’s story on the situation here.


There are two problems, as Civera sees it. One is that it is not going to be cheap. A lot of municipalities yelped when the SPCA hiked their fees substantially a year ago, to the current $116 per animal.


Dinah’s Way is going to be a lot more expensive than that, according to Civera, more in the neighborhood of $250-$300 per animal.


Then there’s the matter of time. The site has to be acquired, and the facility built. The SPCA is getting out of animal control on July 1. That means the county still faces a crisis.


Civera said he would like to see the SPCA extend its deadline and work with the county until the new facility is up and running. The SPCA does not seem inclined to do that.


Civera echoed sentiments that the SPCA does not seem to be living up to its charter, something that was stressed a few weeks ago by Tom Hickey, a member of the state Dog Law Advisory Board.


Why do I get the feeling this thing is still going to wind up in court?

Comments

Paula said…
Although this is more of a long term solution, the most effective way to curb the feral cat population is through TNR, or Trap-Neuter-Release, which is not only humane, but more cost effective in the long run. Alley Cat Allies and Alley Cat Rescue are 2 good groups who will send any learning materials to communities wanting to start this program. It had already been successful in many cities, including nearby Atlantic City which has humanely curbed the overpopulation of the boardwalk cats, as well as kept a great deal of the rodent population under control naturally as opposed to chemically.
April 21, 2011 at 11:37 AM
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