BOB DYLAN

STEPHEN KING

The love of cats is known as "Ailurophilia."  Apparently lots of humans are afflicted.  Around 63% of all U.S. households (71.1 million) have pets, and more than half of these households have more than one animal. The two most popular pets in most Western countries have been cats and dogs. In the United States, a 2007-2008 survey showed that dog-owning households outnumbered those owning cats, but that the total number of pet cats was higher than that of dogs. The same was true for 2009-2010.  We're #1 and looking to stay that way!

The Pets’ Trust would help provide funding for programs and resources that would cut down, and hopefully eliminate, many of the problems that plague Miami-Dade Animal Services.

The goal is to end the senseless killing of healthy animals and promote responsible pet ownership. Monies deposited into the fund would go toward operating and staffing a new shelter – set to open next year – lower the cost of spay/neuter services and fund programs to educate pet owners about the importance of vaccinating and microchipping their animals.

To fund the Pets’ Trust, Miami-Dade homeowners would be assessed approximately $13 each year on their property tax. A $13 assessment may not seem like much, but at a time when so many families are struggling just to keep their homes, asking them to fund the county’s animal shelter may not seem like a good idea.

Nonetheless, Rosenberg says he’s received a lot of support from everyone with whom he shares his cause.   That's why he thought getting it on the ballot for a general vote would be as easy as getting the Miami-Dade Commission to approve it. But, he says, he has hit a wall of bureaucracy when trying to get the support he needs to even get the petition on the ballot.

"Almost all the animal rescue groups and animal advocates have come together and we created The Pets’ Trust for the people of Miami-Dade County to vote on," Rosenberg said.  "All we want is to have it on the ballot so people can vote. How will we know if people want this or not, if we don’t give them the chance to vote on it?"

Even if you’re not an advocate for the animals, at least you can agree that the citizens of Miami-Dade County should have the right to decide what they want on the ballot.

How can you help?  For starters, go to www.PetsTrustMiami.com  and sign the petition asking for the right to vote.  For more ideas, and to keep up with the latest on the petition, follow The Pets Trust on Facebook. Once it’s on the ballot, you can always vote against it.  But let's at least get the petition on the ballot.

"Cut the bureaucracy and let the people decide," Rosenberg said. 

http://www.local10.com/news/voices/Advocating-for-pets-in-Miami-Dade-County/-/7654996/8545370/-/6m0lx9z/-/index.html