Pets help people

Re: Cat licensing may reduce strays — Oct. 19.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society’s suggestion that microchipping is a far more reliable method to return lost pets to their owners was great to see and the city is fortunate to have such an effective and forward thinking humane society.

Kitchener Coun. Frank Etherington’s comment, however, that he’s “shocked to see this amount spent on the needs of animals” is one we hope he revisits, and reconsiders.

The power of the human-animal companion-bond has been extensively studied; pet abandonment is linked to socio-economic needs of a city’s residents. As the executive director of the East Village Animal Hospital, operating as a nonprofit to service low income families, folks on social assistance, and nonprofit organizations, I can assure you many animals are supporting/improving their humans’ mental and physical health needs. The positive physical, emotional and psychological impact of pets in your city, interacting with all walks of life from homeless youth to impoverished senior citizens, and the city’s responsibility to support this really should not be shocking. It should be acknowledged and embraced as a resource absolutely worth investing in to perhaps even ease the burden on other areas, and be part of the solution based discussions when council is “regularly wrestling” with how to provide accessible to services for all city residents in need. Laurie Ristmae Executive director, East Village Animal Hospital Kitchener