Councilman’s efforts deserve praise

Kudos to Edmonds City Councilmember Michael Plunkett for protecting the cats and dogs of Edmonds.

Plunkett is proposing amendments to the city code that would mandate cat licensing and that would require all stray cats and dogs adopted out by the city’s contracting animal shelter to be altered. Michael Plunkett clearly recognizes the connection between preventative measures like those he proposes, and the eventual ending of the needless euthanasia of shelter animals.

King County adopted identical rules a decade ago and found their euthanasia numbers drop from more than 3,000 animals in 1992 to just one healthy, adoptable animal last year. More than 4,000 dogs and cats were euthanized last year in shelters in Snohomish County. Michael Plunkett’s proposal will help ensure that Edmonds animals are not part of this needless tragedy. In addition, altered animals are healthier, live longer and are less aggressive. In fact, altered dogs are three times less likely to bite than unaltered dogs, making this a public safety issue as much as an animal welfare issue.

Edmonds City Council members need to know that our animals should be protected.

Progress Animal Welfare Society

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