HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0604.001 2022-2024 p/Counci
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COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Sent: Wednesday, December 06, 2023 9:16 AM RECEIVED
To: Council Testimony Time 9'(6.�,A1, B
Date DEC 0 6 2
Cc: Galimba, Michelle M.
Subject: FW: PETFIX statement for upcoming review meeting Wednesday, December 6 for
discretionary funding allocations
Late Testimony for Reso 366-23 PETFIX
From:Gowron, Leah
Sent:Tuesday, December 5, 2023 4:31 PM
Subject: PETFIX statement for upcoming review meeting Wednesday, December 6 for discretionary funding allocations
PETFIX Spay and Neuter, a HI Island-based 501c3, has reached out to the office of District 6 Councilor Michelle Galimba,
seeking$5,000 of discretionary funding to cover the cost of one spay and neuter clinic.At any given clinic we can service
approximately 85 cats or 30(+or-) dogs per day(clinics tend to be two days in length). While these numbers may seem
small, in fact each clinic means so much to so many.
PETFIX's mission is to serve those most in need of free spay and neuter services on the Big Island:
• Our kupuna, all too often on limited income and yet caring for pets that bring much to their mental and physical
well-being:
• those in rural communities.where ready and cost-mindful access to veterinary care is limited or not available;
• those that find themselves struggling to support family let alone personal pets, and yet those animals bring love
and support to these families;
• caring individuals that find themselves looking after stray dogs(often dumped or otherwise abandoned) or cat
communities in their neighbourhood—a neighbour who has ben overrun, perhaps and yet wants to do what
s/he can to feed and care for innocent animals.
These are the people coming to PETFIX. People that simply care for cats and dogs. That know that their"thanks" is the
love of a pet,the emotional support they provide, or the sense of"helping out" in the neighbourhood. Every cat or dog
spayed or neutered means that the capacity to maintain the levels of animals not looked after on the Island has been
impacted. It means fewer kittens---every female cat potentially could produce three-four litters in a year, with two-five
kittens per litter. Do the math and the numbers are both shocking and preventable.And prevention means a decrease in
the feral population, better environmental care of the community, and healthier animals overall.
A discretionary allocation of$5,000 would cover the costs of one clinic:veterinarian fees, medications related to
surgery,flea &tick medications, microchips, assorted expenses associated with the surgical process (gloves,gauze,
needles, cleaning supplies, etc.). All expense incurred at any given clinic are entirely associated with that clinic;
overhead or administrative costs are at a bare minimum, as the founders(sisters Beate and Bridget Neher)do not take a
salary.
By allocating funds from the District 6 Discretionary budget, Councilor Galimba (and her terrific team)would be sending
an impactful and caring message to our community—that we take care of our own, including our four-footed furry
friends. We hope this committee will take into consideration our request for funds for one clinic, and we thank
Councilor Galimba's office for this opportunity to present our needs.
1 Comm. No.
Ref. To: 0 [(I►11 ItRJ1
Ref. Date AEG - 6 2023
With appreciation,
Leah Gowron, PETFIX volunteer
2