Anyone who thinks Delaware County has solved its animal control program better read this story that first appeared Monday.
We didn't solve our problem. We just relocated it a little to the west.
When the Delaware County SPCA announced it was getting out of the animal control business, the county scrambled to come up with a new plan.
An ambitious project to build a new shelter in Darby Township was scuttled by ballooning costs. Eventually, the county decided to contract with the Chester County SPCA to take in our stray animals.
Now many of the same complaints that were long lodged against the Delco SPCA are being lobbed at the Chesco facility. I feel for Chesco SPCA spokesman Rich Britton, who is in a no-win situation. The region is simply being overrun with unwanted animals.
In the meantime, the plan to send our stray animals to Chester County is proving expensive for Delco or lucrative for the Chesco SPCA, depending on your outlook. Delaware County pays a minimum monthly payment of $30,000 for 120 animals. Anything over that number comes with a surcharge of $250 per animal. In June and July, Delco sent 164 and 161 animals to the Chester County SPCA, at an additional cost of $21,250.
Now volunteers are pointing fingers at the Chester County facility, saying they are simply becoming a 'kill' destination where unwanted animals are euthanized.
Britton puts it in pretty simple terms.
"Animal rescue is not glorious and it sure isn't lucrative. You just wish they all had homes."
And for unwanted animals in Delaware County, that home is next door, at our neighbors in Chester County.
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