Make county officials accountable
Elected County Officials Must Be Held Accountable
The No-Kill model is a proven set of strategies and protocols that has worked at open admission government-run shelters all over the country. These shelters have similar budgets and comparable animal intake numbers comparable to that at Horry County Animal Care Center. More than 200 shelters are achieving No-Kill status throughout the United States. Success is a matter of leadership, not money. It costs about $100.00 to take in an animal, house it, feed it, have a bank of cages to stay in, then someone to take it the next day, give the drugs to euthanize it and then dispose of the body.
The shelter director is key to the success of developing the No-Kill method. Once the shelter director and management are committed to No-Kill, they actually realize they are saving money. When the population at the shelter goes down, because pet retention and pet redemption programs are working, and more pet owners are spaying and neutering, and when animals are moving out of the shelter more quickly by way of rescues, fosters, adoptions and trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs for feral cats, these No-Kill shelters can operate below budget.
The inaction of the Horry County Council’s members, their misguided beliefs that reveal they do not fully understand the No-Kill method and their refusal to consider the legitimate concerns of Horry County voters, has given rise to the advocacy group ‘The Animal Advocates of Horry County.’ We would like for our County Council members to elevate Horry County as a front-runner in animal care. South Carolina is the 38th worst state in the nation on animal care, something any council member cannot be proud to admit. We need leaders who embrace No-Kill. County Council members’ seats can be filled by folks who have a leadership mindset. Our animal advocacy group is very frustrated with excuses and lack of leadership on council member’s part. It is time to set some goals for Horry County Council members, set some benchmarks and have a measurable timeline for council members to move from a high kill to a No-Kill shelter. The No-Kill philosophy is spreading all over America, because it makes sense, it works, and it is the right thing to do.
When the citizens go to the polls, please vote for those who have been endorsed by the Animal Advocates of Horry County, because they have committed to seeing the No-Kill philosophy put in place at the county shelter. We now have a chance to elect our county council members with candidates who are ready to work towards No-Kill. With forward-thinking officials at the helm and with the cooperation of all animal advocates in the county, we can do it!
Voting is a way to speak your mind and let your voice be heard. Learn the candidates’ views on issues that are important to you, such as a No-Kill shelter in Horry County, and vote in support of your beliefs. Many do not feel that their votes count. But recent history has shown many local elections are decided by only a handful of votes. Many times just a few votes can separate the final seat-winner and the next highest vote-getter. Your vote can help prevent ineffective officials from remaining in office. It is the job of the public to show up at the polls and vote for candidates who want to see our shelter regarded as a front-runner in the state.
The Animal Advocates of Horry County advocacy group will announced the candidates who endorse the humane treatment of our animals in Horry County's care. These candidates will pledge to support a plan and a timeline for the shelter to reach a 90-percent live-release rate, the benchmark of No-Kill. They will be listed on our 'Hall of Fame.' We ask that you vote for them in each election cycle.
The No-Kill model is a proven set of strategies and protocols that has worked at open admission government-run shelters all over the country. These shelters have similar budgets and comparable animal intake numbers comparable to that at Horry County Animal Care Center. More than 200 shelters are achieving No-Kill status throughout the United States. Success is a matter of leadership, not money. It costs about $100.00 to take in an animal, house it, feed it, have a bank of cages to stay in, then someone to take it the next day, give the drugs to euthanize it and then dispose of the body.
The shelter director is key to the success of developing the No-Kill method. Once the shelter director and management are committed to No-Kill, they actually realize they are saving money. When the population at the shelter goes down, because pet retention and pet redemption programs are working, and more pet owners are spaying and neutering, and when animals are moving out of the shelter more quickly by way of rescues, fosters, adoptions and trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs for feral cats, these No-Kill shelters can operate below budget.
The inaction of the Horry County Council’s members, their misguided beliefs that reveal they do not fully understand the No-Kill method and their refusal to consider the legitimate concerns of Horry County voters, has given rise to the advocacy group ‘The Animal Advocates of Horry County.’ We would like for our County Council members to elevate Horry County as a front-runner in animal care. South Carolina is the 38th worst state in the nation on animal care, something any council member cannot be proud to admit. We need leaders who embrace No-Kill. County Council members’ seats can be filled by folks who have a leadership mindset. Our animal advocacy group is very frustrated with excuses and lack of leadership on council member’s part. It is time to set some goals for Horry County Council members, set some benchmarks and have a measurable timeline for council members to move from a high kill to a No-Kill shelter. The No-Kill philosophy is spreading all over America, because it makes sense, it works, and it is the right thing to do.
When the citizens go to the polls, please vote for those who have been endorsed by the Animal Advocates of Horry County, because they have committed to seeing the No-Kill philosophy put in place at the county shelter. We now have a chance to elect our county council members with candidates who are ready to work towards No-Kill. With forward-thinking officials at the helm and with the cooperation of all animal advocates in the county, we can do it!
Voting is a way to speak your mind and let your voice be heard. Learn the candidates’ views on issues that are important to you, such as a No-Kill shelter in Horry County, and vote in support of your beliefs. Many do not feel that their votes count. But recent history has shown many local elections are decided by only a handful of votes. Many times just a few votes can separate the final seat-winner and the next highest vote-getter. Your vote can help prevent ineffective officials from remaining in office. It is the job of the public to show up at the polls and vote for candidates who want to see our shelter regarded as a front-runner in the state.
The Animal Advocates of Horry County advocacy group will announced the candidates who endorse the humane treatment of our animals in Horry County's care. These candidates will pledge to support a plan and a timeline for the shelter to reach a 90-percent live-release rate, the benchmark of No-Kill. They will be listed on our 'Hall of Fame.' We ask that you vote for them in each election cycle.