Humane Society 'seeks more funds,' yet Heartsong is operating clinic

Editor,

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In reference to the May 11 story by Jenna Martin in The News-Times, I am interested in the quote by Donna Evans that the goal is "no more homeless pets" when the Columbia County Humane Society, in nearly two years of contractual agreement with the Columbia County Animal Care and Control, has rescued only nine animals.

In a meager six months of contractual agreement, Heartsong Animal Rescue has taken out more than 100.

Heartsong also opened the first and, at present, only low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Columbia County, open to the public, offering low-cost spaying, neutering and other services, and we did not request one dime from the public to open.

We did not hold fund raisers to open our business; we did not make promises that took years to happen. We opened and to date have spayed/neutered more than 3,300 pets in less than two years.

In another article in the same paper, there was talk of a deal being struck between the county and the CCHS. How can the county set up a "deal" with the Humane Society to make the process of spay and neuter easier? They do not even have a building, much less a business in place.

Yet Heartsong Spay Neuter Clinic has offered countless times, for more than a year, to assist them in making the spaying/neutering of pets easier and affordable. The county has ignored the offers.

Heartsong representatives have requested to be included in any and all bids for voucher agreements and have offered to spay/neuter animals now (and for the past year) at animal control for a much-reduced cost to make them more adoptable.

We were advised by Emergency Services Division Director Pam Tucker that they were waiting for the Columbia County Humane Society to open their low-cost spay neuter clinic. What makes the Columbia County Humane Society, which is in no way affiliated with the Columbia County or state government bodies, preferential?

The time has come for the community to know what is happening (or not) with their donated money. Now the CCHS is seeking more funds, donations, because of inflation. Yet, Heartsong still spays and neuters and rescues without hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Can anyone explain this please?

Loretta Emmons

Martinez

Loretta Emmons is owner of Heartsong Spay Neuter Clinic.