To the Editor:
The need for the animal shelter in Marion County far outweighs the need for an ice skating rink.
Due to the growth in Marion County and the financial stress of families that are losing their homes and rentals, families are being forced to surrender their pets. The shelters and rescues are full, and humans are just dumping pets on the streets. The shelter is turning people away from surrendering their pets.
Feral cat colonies are growing daily. Dogs and cats are stacked in overflow crates with little time out of their cages. There are not enough kennels for the amount of animals being surrendered. This is a real crisis.
These innocent animals are suffering on the streets. Shame on you, Marion County, for not following through with the promise of a new kennel to accommodate the amount of dogs being bred, surrendered, and dumped in the streets. Breeding licenses are being issued when there is an overcrowding problem. Stop the breeding!
We are all implicated when we allow animals to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a nation.
Please help the animals!
Diane Marchand
Williston resident