Humane Society fiscally responsible

Re: Paying for Strays: Windsor looks at shipping city’s unwanted dogs to Lakeshore pound, July 21.

As a former president of the Windsor-Essex Humane Society I feel compelled to respond to city councillors pursuing a bid proposal from Lakeshore to reduce costs.

This suggestion reminds me of a recommendation to council years ago to consider having a private group take over animal control. The pound was to be situated in warehouse space behind a paint store on Walker Road.

This group’s proposal was cheaper, but inferior. It was wisely dismissed and the Humane Society’s service was maintained.

Although the province mandates that a municipality maintain a pound, it is a minimum standard. I think it is unrealistic of the City of Windsor to expect supporters of the society to subsidize the contract requirements.

And for the city to ask the society for complete financials casts aspersions on the society that something is being hidden, which has never been the case. Does the city demand to see the entire financials of all companies contracted to do city services? The Windsor-Essex County Humane Society is a registered non-profit charity and, in my opinion, above reproach.

I believe the society should be applauded for its fiscal responsibility. The escalating costs of energy, maintenance, as well as the manpower required to service the animals, easily explains the cost of the society proposal.

DOUG JEFFERY, Windsor