CITIZEN PETITION

For Reliable Animal-Control & Shelter Services

Vidalia & Concordia Parish, Louisiana

To the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Town of Vidalia, Concordia Parish Police Jury, local law-enforcement leadership, and other appropriate public officials:

We, the undersigned residents and supporters of the Vidalia and Concordia Parish community, respectfully request immediate attention to the lack of adequate animal-control and shelter resources in our area.

Stray, abandoned, injured, and neglected animals are a community issue—not a problem that individual citizens, police officers, veterinarians, or independent rescuers should be expected to handle alone.

When residents find an animal wandering a highway, abandoned in a neighborhood, injured, starving, or otherwise in need, there should be a clear answer to one simple question:

Who do we call, and where does that animal go?

Right now, that answer is not clear or dependable enough.

WE ARE ASKING OUR LOCAL LEADERS TO:

Provide reliable animal-control coverage and establish a backup procedure when the primary animal-control officer is unavailable.
Establish a safe local shelter or holding facility, or develop dependable agreements with nearby shelters and rescue organizations.
Create partnerships with local veterinarians and rescues for emergency treatment, vaccinations, spay/neuter services, fostering, adoption, and rescue transfers.
Identify dedicated funding through municipal/parish budgets, grants, donations, nonprofit partnerships, and other available funding sources.
Create one clearly published animal-control procedure telling residents whom to contact, where animals can be taken, and what assistance is available.
Form a local animal-welfare working group consisting of representatives from the Town, Parish, law enforcement, veterinary community, rescue organizations, and concerned citizens.
Place this issue on an upcoming public-meeting agenda so residents can be heard and officials can publicly discuss immediate and long-term solutions.
WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR THE IMPOSSIBLE.

We understand that establishing and operating an effective animal-control system requires funding, planning, staffing, and cooperation.

We are asking our elected officials to start the process.

Our community finds funding and resources for many important public needs. The humane treatment of animals, protection of residents, and reduction of stray animals on our roads and in our neighborhoods deserve to be part of that conversation.

Concerned citizens are willing to help.

We need our local government, law enforcement, veterinary community, rescues, businesses, and residents working together instead of leaving this responsibility to whoever happens to find the next abandoned animal.

OUR REQUEST

We respectfully request that the Town of Vidalia and Concordia Parish begin a joint review of animal-control services and present the public with a proposed plan of action for improving animal-control coverage and providing safe temporary shelter for animals in need.

Every signature below represents another voice saying:

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE — AND WE ARE READY TO HELP.

 

PETITION SIGNATURES

By signing below, I support the request for Vidalia and Concordia Parish officials to develop a reliable, humane, and sustainable animal-control and shelter solution.