who the heck goes to the ice rink ne ways? how about getting more vets to offer low/no cost spay/neuter and help control the pet population. a lot of cities have mobile spay/neuter clinics. i know there are A LOT of stray cats in my area, and there should be another option besides tossing them in a cage hoping somebody will adopt them! fix em so they cant reproduce! and let them stay outside.

1924grant – I opened myself up to your ridicule by posting here to try and correct misinformation. You have goaded me to respond.

5:32pm is almost, at the present time accurate.

5:31pm is inaccurate and false, a great number of your other posts relating to this matter are also inaccurate and false. It is unknown if your posts constitute libel, someone on retainer will have to give an opinion on that.

I will not respond to any more of your posts, however misinforming they maybe.

Animal control costs more when there are more animals to "control"...When there are hundreds of additional dogs coming in every year from OUT OF STATE puppy mills, its going to COST.

I read all the prior comments, and two really stick out in a positive way. Thanks Janesvillian for offering what really is a solution to domestic animal overpopulation. I also commend Guest1234 for the thoughtful comments. I hope the Council is reading. You may be righfully indignant about the increase, but cost for animal control is going up. Now, figure out how to pay for it. Leaving strays on the street is not an alternative.

and dont forget about raccoons.

li, there are just as many skunks, fox, ducks, geese, and possums running loose in our city, how is RCHS adressing this? is anyone? They pose the same dangers.

OH, and its not libel either, ask hurleyj if his wife is on the payroll.

I say let the city run it like the buisness it was meant to be. Sure seems to me that for a non-profit, some folks are making pretty decent wages hurleyj, oh, and i forgot, your wife works there too. So 2 people pulling over 60 grand a year out of a non profit, neither with any sort of college education, sounds like a bit of profit to me.

If someone isn't an animal person, there's nothing wrong with that. People shouldn't be forced to support causes they don't believe in; however, it is important for the community and children in the community that animal control is handled properly. If there is an large population of non-vaccinated strays running loose that is a danger to every child that plays outside. It can be very tempting for children to approach and attempt to pet or play with stray cats and dogs. The risk that they will be bitten, scratched, or infected with a disease or fleas would be very high if the city did not responsibly handle animal control. Whether the city chooses to continue to use the RCHS or not, this is a community safety issue they must address. They complain that the cost is too high, but I have yet to see any comparison of what it would cost for the city to use another organization (is there one?) or handle animal control themselves. Until that comparison is done, none of us have any perspective on whether this cost it too high or not.

I don't care bash away I just feel kids and other things are more important than animals. I'm not an animal person and I'm not gonna pretend to be. If that makes me a bad person so be it.

kidlets 2: consider youself double-bashed

beeferer: I notice you have no comments re: this subject. Do you just go around as a spell checker? Any thought/opinions on this issue?

snuba
Oct 14, 2010 at 6:25 p.m. "I know, I misspelled IDIOTS!!!! before you grammer police start attacking me !! :)" Ummmm, "grammar" is spelled with two a's. :-P

The new Wisconsin Puppy Mill bill is affecting shelters and rescue groups as well as the main target of puppy mills. There's a huge difference. Mills are in it for the money involved and breeding puppies. Shelters and Rescue groups are not breeding but trying to save the lives of so many no longer wanted animals who are already here. These are primarily wonderful animals who ended but with crappy owners the first time around... so they deserve to die because of that? Rescue groups end up with a lot of puppies purchased on impluse as well. Animals are not a throw away item!!

Truth1/ Bravo for pointing out the problem isn't that they need more money at RCHS, it's WHY they need more money. Irresponsible pet owners. If you have a neighbor who you know let's their unfixed pet run around outside, call JPD. If you have a neighbor with a bunch of kittens they simply 'let go', call the JPD. Your neighbor will never know it was you, and if they do, so what? Stand up for the animals!

The Puppy Mill Bill was a wonderful thing, but will have a significant, long-term impact on any business that "sells" animals, including the Humane Society. They must conform to strict regulations and will likely need a veterinarian on staff. All of this will require a huge budget increase, remodeling and enlarging the facility. It's a good thing they are looking forward. It has always been the ultimate responsibility of the municipalities to enforce their own animal control ordinence, in this case they contract out to the humane society to do the work because it was felt they could do it better and cheaper. I would guess if the city decides not to have the humane society do it any longer, they will have to do their own or find someone else to do it. They will have to conform to all the same stringent standards set forth by the puppy mill bill. It could potentially end up costing the cities of Janesville and Beloit much more than the current proposal.

@mruglyhands: so you would have people walking around town discharging firearms near people's houses, hunting stray animals? First off, how would you know it's a stray and not a pet? And how about all that live ammo flying around the neighborhood? Your idea is terrible.

For those who don't like the humane society and think they shouldn't get money.....OK, thats fine, but the problems that they address need to be STOPPED from happening in the first place if that is to occur.

guest1234- Great points......RCHS takes care of a specific PROBLEM as do all other "shelters", which is companion animal overpopulation.......Society in general has to LEARN that there are ROOT CAUSES to every problem.....pets running loose and randomly breeding is one specific problem that is difficult to address as it depends on people "doing the right thing" by getting the pets fixed.
An entirely separate issue is PUPPY MILLS where masses of dogs are bred *DELIBERATELY* by people with sheer greed and NO sense of responsibility at all...the problem here is that most "local" people only see the small picture, that is, we have too many animals and have to pay to take care of the problem...Puppy mills in faraway, hidden,out-of-the-way places are a MAJOR cause of these problems and need to have MUCH MORE done to end them on a more DYNAMIC/collective scale.

Hear hear guest1234. True dat.

There seem to be a lot of questions about the Rock County Humane Society. If you feel strongly about this issue, learn more about it. Give them a call and set up a tour to see the facilities for yourself. Ask where they get their food, how many volunteer hours people put in, how many paid staff they employ, how their funding works. Ask to sit down with one of the hundreds of cats that was found "stray" that will purr and want to be pet and *obviously* belonged with people.
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RCHS is proposing a budget to care for an animal overpopulation problem caused by people here in Janesville. They are not putting animals before people. Animals are their job, just like a school's job is educating children and a police officer's job is keeping the peace. We all benefit from having a humane animal organization in our community to house animals we find stray, and to re-home them when they are healthier, spayed/neutered and microchipped.

Russ Steeber: The RCHS didn't get the city stuck between a rock and a hard place, the city get itself there. If it doesn't like it, come up with an alternative soltuion. It is not the RESPONSIBILITY of the RCHS to provide animal control services to the City of Janesville. The city has had "only since August" to explore alternatives?! That's TWO MONTHS! In addition, Levitt said before that the RCHS charges have been very favorable for the city and could have been higher. I love how they all sit around and pretend to be outraged when they've known about this problem for months and have done nothing about it.

which shorthairs?

Wiscoman- Great point! How funny it is that they are so indignant about paying out this cash, which we KNOW is needed to feed and care for animals-
But they approved 2mill for the arena. The rage they portray in this article is almost comical.

I know this has nothing to do will the story here but I just have to say to the Janesville city council how does it feel to have someones hands in your pockets. To ZAP us all with your sidewalk plan "It's almost criminal". How does It feel to have to come up with a bunch of cash you don't have.

SarahB sorry that you don't approve that I don't like animals and would rather help out kids. My priorities are not animals but my children and other (in my opinion) more worthy charities out there. It's not my job to take care of animals that other people don't want or want to take care of.

SarahB1: There are already two prices for licenses. (The prices depend on the city or township.) In the city of Janesville, a license for an intact dog/cat is $13. A license for a spayed/neutered dog/cat is $7. http://www.ci.janesville.wi.us/Library/n...

Why should someone who doesn't like animals volunteer in an animal shelter?

What would solve this issue is if the people against the Humane Society would volunteer their a month of their spare time there. They'd learn quickly that there really is a need for MORE money at the RCHS.

It's silly of them to throw a temper tantrum and hide behind their self-righteous reasons and focus on what is important.

By the way - when are the next City Council elections?

AS IF the RCHS intended to make this request at the detriment of two police officers. DUH. The RCHS isn't necessarily aware of the other budget constraints on the City. All they have done is ask for enough money to keep them afloat.

Simplelife67 - •Do not libel anyone. Libel is writing something false about someone that damages that person's reputation.

I would rather have NASCO pick up dead bodies than have them shipped out ALIVE to cosmetic companies and private labs for research.

Sometimes dead is better. I am not against the RCHS euthanizing animals they cannot adopt out. It is a simple fact that there are many more morons out there breeding cats then there are people that spay and neuter. There are more animals out there than homes. It is simple math.

bash me if you want but I would rather my money go toward something for our kids and city rather than animals.

Mr Steeber and friends, JVLHOMEOWNER is correct with the comment - "dump the ice arena" - that would save you over TWO MILLION dollars. Then you get your 2 officers and RCHS gets what they deserve. The RCHS does a fine job with the money they receive. It's time to increase the money to them and be responsible. The human society is not a luxury item on your budget list - we need to help and get our priorities straightened out.

What a joke...someone I've known for years worked for the RCHS until this Angela came into the picture! No Kill?? they kill on the snap of a finger, many times before the stray period is even up. Why?? might you ask, well they make a crap of money from Nasco when they show up every week for the "BIG" pick-up! Don't believe me...you should ask. Many of the animals aren't even sick. Depending on the animal breed and age Nasco needs to supply the UW's for medical training, the RCHS kills those that match for ultimate money. By the way nice new vehicles the poor Humane Society has.

Fire the humane society and make it legal to shoot down stray animals. That it'd save all the money they're losing now and it would deflect the want for more money and the tax levy that this piece of junk city council will undoubtedly push for would be a mute point. Of course, instead - they will be outraged up front and then just push it through. We got the crack heads running the crack house here in Janesville.

"the society must upgrade the facilities because of puppy mill legislation that adversly affects shelters"............well ... yeah .... puppy mills have gone on and on and on for decades and people are just now waking up to the fact that not only are they extremely cruel to the adult dogs there, they cost us LOTS of money and have been doing so for a long LONG time.
Waking up to the fact that something is hitting you where it REALLY hurts can be quite revealing and attention-getting.

As Bob Barker used to remind us spay and neuter your pets. I am glad to see Janesville finally moving on from GM squads. This all happened years ago when they bid out the cars and had to buy Fords. GM threw a hissy fit and Janesville proceeded to kiss butt. You go out and buy the car that is the best price for the taxpayer. Most cities participate in the state pool which can save thousands on squad cars. Good choice to maybe save the taxpayers a few bucks.

Someone should let Russ Steeber know that we are giving him the Humane alternative to this situation! Time is up buddy! You have been there too long! Someone else needs your cage!

Just wondering why the County isn't contracting RCHS? Are they funding it in any way? Janesvillean?

It would be interesting to know the ACTUAL number of dogs brought into the county/city from out-of-state puppy mills, not that it would be any better if it were in-state mills....That is one of the reasons they need so much more money...Rotten people lining their own pockets from both in and out of state not caring who else they affect.

One more thing- We probably don't even need to worry about this or discuss it further. I'm certain any number of other businesses will come bustin' through the doors in the next few weeks anxious to offer their services to the city as a replacement to RCHS- I mean after all, who wouldn't want a job that pays minimum wage, causes constant criticism, looses money consistently, gets to make daily decisions about who's time is up when out of space, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year?

The humane society is finally asking for the money they have deserved all along. To say the old rate for animal control was "favorable" is an understatement. Who else would offer a service that actually costs them money? If it were not for private donations, RCHS couldn't operate. COJ, you should try offering services for substantially less than the actual cost and stand on the corner with a tin cup in your hand and see if you can make up the difference. For a council member to say they don't do any fundraising and that they have found a "cash cow" is just plain insulting! C'mon -asking for reimbursement for the actual cost of doing business??? Do your homework before you start throwing out accusations! And please don't criticize the shelter for euthanasia; it's the very contracts with the cities that force them into that position-they are obliged to take in any and all animals from contracted cities or towns, regardless of space. 300 cats and 100 cages, what is the solution? Is that their fault too?

I quote the article: Council member Russ Steeber said the increase of $177,000 could pay for two police officer positions that Levitt is suggesting the council leave vacant.

"We are actually sacrificing two police officers for the sake of running an organization that has got us stuck between a rock and a hard spot," he said. End Quote.

Is it just me, or do those 2 sentences contradict each other. First they say they have money in reserve that they choose to not use at this time, then double talk that they are sacrificing something they don't actually have?

Come on Rock County, and the cities, show some compassion. It's not the shelters fault that there's an overpopulation problem, they just get stuck with the fallout of what our society has created. And without your tax dollars, only the contracts and donations are how they keep afloat. I think that offering low cost spays and neuters is a good idea too!

I have spoken against spending by the Council in the past..but not this time.
In my opinion, the RCHS has been having money problems for years, and now has a director who has had to say, we need more! They deserve more for what they do. The shelter is over crowded, and in need of upgrade.
To the council: Pay up, you have been getting it on the cheap for long enough. Don't hold the two police positions up over this - Just dump the Ice Arena, that will pay for two cops AND the dogs and cats. The City will be getting something for everybody, not just the few who want to skate.

Councilmen Steeber, and Brunner, No votes for you next time from my family.

The Society says they take in about 5000 animals every year, but only adopt out about 100 a month, or about 1 in 4. I've also heard over the years disillusioned animal lovers who go to volunteer there and find out that "humane" means "humane euthanasia". So the RCHS is not a no-kill operation. What is happening is that they have a state requirement when they operate as an animal control facility so that owners have time to claim their strays.
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Doing lower-cost adoptions is actually the opposite direction. It would increase the costs to taxpayers.
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If the problem is to be solved, the city should engage in an aggressive spay and neuter campaign. Right now there are simply too many animals and too many people who don't make the decision to prevent pregnancies. Sometimes it's because of an aversion to neutering, but more often it's just a cost issue.
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Right now anyone in Rock County and parts of the surrounding area is eligible for an affordable spay-or-neuter operation through Spay Me! in Madison. They'll pick up your animal at the Humane Society parking lot and return it to you a day or two later. They will even help if you have colonies of feral cats. This will help reduce the unwanted domestic animal population in the future. This is indeed the humane alternative.
http://www.spayme.com/

It would be a wise decision for Janesville to still purchase Chevrolet police cars.

I know, I misspelled IDIOTS!!!! before you grammer police start attacking me !! :)

I can't believe the ignorance of the city council.This is a non-profit organization that does nothing but help homeless animals. They're bashing the RCHS for being very close to a no-kill shelter. How dare they! How horrible!Brunner's "cash cow" comment and Steeber's "by the short hairs" just proves what idoits they are. They should be working to shut down Petland.Now THERE'S a cash cow organization! Alot of puppies that are bought there on impulse end up at the shelter!!! This city is backasswards and the council members? I won't write what I'd like to call them because the comments would surely be removed!!!!This city thinks nothing of throwing a million or two into re-doing an ice-skating rink though. ASSININE!!!

It seems the cities maybe cows, but the society has been the pack mule. Here's the carrot, do a little more work.

The RCHS should have special adoption days where the cost is very low, especially when the animals have been there more than 6 months. It seems to be operating more like a sanctuary. I detest the thought of more euthanizing, but it is time to be realistic. Is there any time frame for how long they will keep an animal?
I realize the cost has increased, but RCHS compounds the problem by keeping animals that are not adoptable.

I wonder if Councilperson Steeber's position at the Sheriff's Dept has ANYTHING to do with his input on two officers for the City of Janesville ?

Additionally, if the contract is doubled for the City, is Steeber worried about his possible raise if the County board has to tighten their budget with a contract increase for the county too ?

By the short hairs, he says !!! WOW Proud moment for Janesville.

Council member Steeber stated, "they've got us by the short hairs ..." What a great example of our dignified City Council! Such talk, in an official meeting no less, is an embarrassment to the city, and Mr. Steeber should apologize accordingly.

New plan: the council members who think high-kill is a better alternative can save money by doing it themselves, providing plenty of photo opps of them offing helpless kittens and puppies. This should be great for their re-election campaigns. (And yes, I know there's a few sickos out there for whom this would be a plus for them -- but I don't think that's true of most voters.)

So, they were on contract. With the economy, the Humane Society took in many, many more animals for the same contract price. Their prices go up, and the city doesn't want to pay?