South Bend did not renew the contract with the St. Joseph County Humane Society (SJCHS) in 1996 for a variety of reasons, all of them legitimate. SJCHS is not convenient for South Bend residents. Merging would cost the city of South Bend more money than it costs presently. South Bend would again be at the mercy of Mishawaka. More animals would be killed every year due to space limitations.

The proposed merger would put South Bend in the position of doing everything it does now, at our cost, while transporting and paying a "per animal" charge to SJCHS. South Bend would effectively relinquish all control to SJCHS while paying to do so!  South Bend would be a mere "puppet" for SJCHS. South Bend MUST continue to be autonomous. SJCHS killed 91% of cats in 2010, they will not be able to house and care for more than 1,000 additional cats per year. These statistics do not include dogs!

As citizens of South Bend we are demanding that you vote no to this merger. We believe that South Bend must retain its own Animal Control facility and not become the willing victim to the dictatorship of SJCHS again.