http://www.wrex.com/ | July 28, 2008 09:04 PM |By Inggrid Yonata
ROCKFORD - Families aren't the only ones who suffer from the tough economy. Pets suffer too due to families who can't afford to keep them anymore. As a result the Winnebago County Animal Services needed to expand its facilities and staff in the future.
"I think it's all workable. I think that you're going to see the committee and the County Board put together a great plan as we move forward to figure out how to do this. If the community understand and gets involved there's private money out there that we can seek as well," said Bob Kinnison, Board Member of Winnebago County's 10th District.
More than half of the animals at the County shelter are strays. Gary Longanecker, Director of the Winnebago County Animal Services, said, "It's about 10% or the people that cause 90% of the problems when it comes to irresponsible pet owners."
For now they're asking people to adopt these furry friends from shelters, instead of resorting to the newspaper or breeders. Longanecker said, "It's a win-win. It's a bargain for the adopter, animals get to go to a new home, hopefully better than the ones they came from. And it's still very cost effective." Cost effective because adopting from the shelter cost $110 compared to buying from a pet store or breeder that may sell pets for three or four times more. At that cost, the pets are guaranteed to have been spayed or neutered, registered with the County and vaccinated.
There are about 59,000 pets registered with the County. Pet owners are reminded to keep their pets' registration and vaccinations current to help the County's Animal Services.