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HOLLISTER, Calif. -- The clock is ticking for animals in shelters. Governor Jerry Brown wants to make it easier for shelters to put down strays to help pay down the state's deficit. It's one of several ideas the governor is talking about to save the state hundreds of millions of dollars. But plenty of people don't like the idea.
Former State Senator Tom Hayden called out Governor Jerry Brown in a youtube video released last week. He says the idea to euthanize stray or lost animals sooner rather than later is a humane issue, not a budget issue, "They say save a few bucks, but the cost of that is to put countless dogs and cats to death."
In 1998, Hayden sponsored a bill forcing shelters to hold lost dogs and cats for 4 to 6 days. Now the Governor's talking about having shelters euthanize the animals after 3 days. Brown thinks it could save the state about $23 million dollars a year.
"Because it's a state mandate, the state would then reimburse the cities and communities for those extra days of the holding period," said Hollister Police Captain David Westrick.
Captain David Westrick also runs the Hollister Animal Shelter. He said the shelter most likely won't be impacted either way.
"We've always held it longer than the state's mandates because we wanted to make sure that our animals get adopted here," said Westrick.
Which means the city isn't getting reimbursed for keeping their animals in the shelter longer. Westrick said one way or another; they'll find a way to help strays.
"We've used our volunteers here that will actually solicit rescue groups within this state or out of the area," said Westrick.
The SPCA for Monterey County said it's against the governor's plan and will work closely with shelters to help keep animals alive.
