As a volunteer at an animal control facility, I've seen firsthand how animals are processed like criminals and confined inside concrete cells or cages. Each day, these innocent dogs and cats only leave their confinement to fulfill their basic needs, and nobody interacts with them unless a volunteer gets them out.

The handling of these animals typically falls to inmates who are serving sentences at the facility. While this work may shorten their time in jail, it often places them directly in the heart-wrenching position of performing euthanasia. This practice doesn't only undermine the emotional wellbeing of the inmates but also detracts from treating these captive animals as sentient beings deserving of kindness and respect.

Tragically, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year, nationwide. Restrictions on time, resources, and availability of potential adopters contribute to this sad reality. However, it is only exacerbated by the dogmatic approach of treating animals as if they were criminals.

It's time we reconsider the way our society manages its animal control facilities. Let's challenge the status quo and elect officials specifically tasked with the humane and compassionate oversight of these animals. In doing so, we can create an environment in which our neediest pets are treated with dignity and kindness, rather than alone and scared within the cold confines of a cell.

Help us to change the narrative. Join us in petitioning for the election of dedicated individuals committed to running our animal control centers with compassion, promoting adoption, and significantly reducing our reliance on euthanasia. Please, sign this petition today!