An estimated 48,000 homeless dogs and cats are euthanized in Maryland shelters annually. Affordable, accessible spay/neuter programs can help prevent this tragedy. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have a public funding mechanism to subsidize the cost of spay/neuter surgeries for those who cannot afford it. During the 2011 session of the Maryland General Assembly legislation was enacted establishing a Task Force to study the establishment of a statewide spay/neuter fund.
The first meeting of the Task Force will take place on December 1, 2011 in the House Environmental Matters Hearing Room, Second Floor, House Office Building, 6 Bladen Street, Annapolis. A second meeting is schedule for December 15, 2011 at 1 pm. These meetings are open to the public. The agenda for the first meeting will be to review successful spay/neuter programs within Maryland and in other states.
Carolyn Kilborn, Chair of Maryland Votes for Animals, expressed enthusiastic support for the work of the Task Force, “Maryland desperately needs a subsidized statewide spay/neuter program, particularly in this economy, because people need help to afford spay/neuter for their pet. The task force is designing a program just for Maryland that will meet our citizens' and the animals' needs and within Maryland's fiscal constraints. Fewer animals means lower costs to Maryland to house and euthanize homeless animals. Everyone wins by adopting a subsidized statewide spay/neuter program for Maryland. Enactment of the recommendations of the Task Force will be our top priority for the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly.”
The Task Force is co-chaired by Senator Joanne Benson and Delegate Barbara Frush. Committee members are Aileen Gabbey, Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Amy E. Hanigan, Esq., Maryland Votes for Animals; Darlene Sanders Harris, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter; Susan McDonough, V.M.D., Maryland Veterinary Medical Association; Barbara A. McLean, M.D.; Paul F. Miller, Professional Animal Workers of Maryland; Carolyn Nicky Ratliff, Humane Society of Carroll County; Tami Santelli, Maryland Senior State Director, Humane Society of the United States; Ann Selnick, Animal Advocates of Howard County; Tamela D. Booze Terry, SPCA and Humane Society of Prince George’s County, Michael F. Canning, Jr., Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council; and Kurt Gallagher, Pet Food Institute.
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Maryland Votes for Animals (MVFA) is an organization with one overriding mission: To create an ever-growing voting bloc of animal advocates who will elect representatives willing to champion and vote for animal protection legislation, and to hold politicians accountable to their constituents.