Schwarzenegger Tax Cut: Kill Shelter Animals Faster to Save Money

By isak, June 9, 2009

One of the many tax cuts Gov Schwarzenegger is proposing is one that has been previously defeated but I guess he hopes that Californians who are feeling the pinch will let it get through this time, is to kill animals at shelters faster. He wants to cut the hold time on strays and lost pets from 6 days to 3 days, saying it will save the state $24.6 million.

In 2004 this measure was defeated by animal loving Californians, will it pass now? Are Californian so desperate to close the deficit that they’re going to kill the voiceless, the innocent, the defenseless… just for the almighty buck?

“Obviously monies need to come from somewhere, but to do it on the backs of these animals is just really sad,” Kiska Icard, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said.

Shelter animals have so little chance now, they are killed daily by the thousands. This fine thread of hope is all so many have and now he wants to take this away.

Oh, and don’t forget his attempt tax vet care as a “luxury” item either. Schwarzenegger doesn’t seem to like animals and pets very much, does he? Use them to make or save money, forget they are living, breathing, feeling creatures!

And not only will California animals and pets suffer, his cuts will also hit of segments of society that can take the hit the least; the elderly, schools, children, disabled. But he seems to have no problem with the $4-5 billion annually that goes to illegal immigrants.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he’s “happy” illegal immigrants get state services and says they’re not to blame for California’s $24.3 billion budget gap.

Schwarzenegger, an immigrant himself, says the estimated $4 billion to $5 billion the state spends on illegal immigrants annually is a “small percentage” of the deficit. (SF Gate)

Sure, don’t support our own but let us support someone else’s. I am not turning this into an illegal immigrant slam, don’t get me wrong here, what I am saying is that there’s a serious priority problem with this. Why should America’s elderly, disabled, children and pets suffer while we support the health care and education system for illegal immigrants? Schwarzenegger’s answer is that they pick crops and build buildings….. hunh?

Now, please don’t turn this into an illegal immigrant comment rant. That’s not the point. The point is the killing of innocents which is going to escalate to unbelievable numbers if his proposal goes through. The point is that it’s going to affect the most needy elements of society who are voiceless as well as those people who in many cases have no other options, children, disabled and elderly. The point is balance, priorities, fairness!

I guess “kick’em when they’re already down” is gonna be Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new motto for California. Hope you are hearing this, Californians!!

California Governor Schwarzenegger has repeatedly targeted pets with catastrophic budget cuts, but voters united to stop him in the past. Share your opinion about Governor Schwarzenegger’s current plan to shorten shelter animals’ chances at adoption by forcing earlier euthanasia.

CONTACT
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
phone (916) 445-2841
fax (916) 558-3160
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reprinted from the For The Love of The Dog website
Sunday, June 7th, 2009

Yet again animals pull the short straw and are relegated to the status of some cheap, disposable commodity. We have the dogs being beaten to death with sticks in Hanzhong, China, dogs being dumped on an uninhabited island in Malaysia, cats being used as shark bait in areas throughout the world and on and on. We need to work towards giving our animals the respect they deserve. They live, they breath, they feel.