No doubt, and I respect that; it's tightening the budget by killing animals that bothers me. - Edit 1
Before modification by Joel at 27/03/2011 06:39:40 PM
I understand the upsetting nature of these things, but when a state is facing a multimillion dollar shortfall there really are more important things to be paying attention to than strays being killed. That said, yes, no-kill shelters are preferable when available.
An admittedly quick Google indicates that at least the "retail" price of euthanasia ($50-60) is about twice that of a rabies vaccination ($20-35). Answers.com claims the retail price of sterilization is about $100, in line with my recollections. Unless you can provide four days worth of food and water and someone to clean the pen (plus dispose of the body safely) for <$75 it seems cheaper to just vaccinate, neuter and release. It's hard for me to believe that would be less humane than sticking him in a cage for four days until it's time to kill him.
Like I said, I know there are plenty of other horror stories out there, and many of them involve people instead of animals, but, again, the difference is that the state doesn't consider executing people a legitimate austerity measure (per se, but that's a whole other rant, yes?
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