Editorial: It's a definite win-win between City and SPCA
Several years ago the folks at Molly's Militia came to the City of North Augusta with concerns about the three-day window before a stray was euthanized. The local shelter asked to be able to take such animals and work to adopt them out instead of having to destroy so many, in large measure before their time ran out. That has been a good relationship and has helped out with the limited space available for North Augusta animal control.
Now the City has worked out an agreement with the Aiken County SPCA that will, it is hoped, help reduce the number of strays picked up in the first place. The two agencies have worked out a sliding scale for North Augusta residents to be able to have their animals spayed or neutered at a cost that makes it possible for even low income families to do right by their pets. The cost for the sterilization plus a microchip and a rabies shot can be as low as $15 to those families.
Mike Strauss, animal control officer in North Augusta, noted spaying and neutering provide certain health benefits for the animal, plus reducing the number of unwanted animals, reducing the number of animals that are euthanized as well as reducing the costs associated with housing the animals.
This is a definite benefit. Prevention is a more sensible approach. The agreement with the SPCA will spend more on the living and much less on the dying.