South Bend Activists Advance Proposal to Save Animals and Their City

There's no shortage of reasons for communities to support animal welfare programs: saving lives tends to save tax dollars and enhance public safety by getting animals spayed and neutered and off the streets. But what if there was a way to help the areas of town that it need it most while helping animals? There is.

Tax Increment Financing provides funds that can't be used for general projects, but can be used to develop economically depressed areas. Through redevelopment funds, Jacksonville, Florida, was able to help build the First Coast No More Homeless Pets Spay Neuter Clinic to bring low-cost programs to the area that needed it most. And in South Bend, Indiana, a creative and politically savvy crew of animal advocates are working the phones, gathering signatures, and attending meetings to secure an additional $300,000 in TIF funds for a new animal shelter on the city's impoverished west side.

The South Bend Redevelopment Commission has already approved $1.5 million in TIF funding for the project. If the commission and the city council approve the extra funding that will allow the new facility to be constructed in the part of town where new buildings and services are needed most, it will be a win-win for the human and animal residents of the city.

The project  was  a done-deal until Councilman David Varner introduced a resolution to outsource the city's animal sheltering to the Humane Society of St. Joseph County. Ordinarily, one would think that a humane society contract might improve the plight on animals, but not according to South Bend's history with the Humane Society of St. Joseph County.

Until around 1996, South Bend had a contract with the Humane Society to provide animal control services. The city was spending about $200,000 a year and believed it was not getting it's money's worth. The services weren't 24/7, 365 days a year and the humane society's response time to urgent calls was abysmal. So the city took the job on themselves, putting cages in an old fire station instead of renewing their contract.

Despite operating out of that same outdated, inadequate facility, South Bend Animal Control has been working with local rescue groups and trap-neuter-release organizations to reduce its euthanasia rate. The Humane Society of St. Joseph County ... not so much.

Although he's a fiscal conservative, Councilman Varner's resolution will cost South Bend's residents. It would require the city to maintain all of its current expenses associated with animal control, plus the ongoing maintenance and repair of the 120-year-old fire station/animal shelter and give the Humane Society about $219,000 per year in boarding fees and lost revenues. It all adds up to a good reason to build a shelter within the community.

Valerie Schey, Founder and President of CARE of South Bend says Varner's resolution is bad for taxpayers and animals. "First and foremost, Varner's proposal will cost South Bend tax payers more money. Second is the impact it will have on public safety. The bulk of the aggressive animal and dangerous dog service calls come from the three  zip codes surrounding the shelter. Having our facility conveniently located in this area will support the rapid response times our community needs for these calls. Finally, [with Varner's proposal], there would be an increase in the euthanasia rate."

Let's hope the city council and the Redevelopment Commission reject Varner's resolution and give South Bend activists the money needed for a new shelter. It's a matter of lives and dollars.

Please sign the petition to support a new animal shelter in South Bend with TIF funds.

Photo Credit: Best Friends Animal Society