Editor:
Question: If your home was filling with water from a broken pipe what would you do first? A) Shut the water off at the source? Or, B) Grab (or worse yet, purchase) buckets and begin scooping so that you could give the water to someone else, later?
I think the answer is an easy one; you'd turn the water off first, wouldn't you? This analogy fits the national and local problem of companion animal overpopulation. Turning off the "flow" in this case means spaying and neutering, plain and simple.
I worked for eight years to help homeless dogs in Humboldt County through an adoption program and by encouraging sterilization. Seeing a dog (or cat) go home with a new, forever family is certainly rewarding. But, it's also bucket filling and passing. The eight years took its toll. A very wise man told me at the start, "Build a shelter, and they will fill it."
But I'm not giving up, and I hope others in the community feel the same way. Through Facebook, we've started a new group - Winnemucca Spay and Neuter Advocates. It can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/groups/winnemuccaspayandneuter/. We're in the very early formation stage and we're "hiring" volunteers now.
Many have suggested that solving this problem is the responsibility of local government. I disagree. Folks, we are the "government." As responsible companion animal owners, it's our responsibility to find and implement solutions. Our group will be about solutions, not finger-pointing.
Our next organizational meeting will be held Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Humboldt County Library from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. This meeting is open to anyone who'd like to be part of the solution. Please join our Facebook group and let us know you're coming, or call (775) 247-2528. We'll save a chair for you.
Tim Vaughan
Winnemucca
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