Stop cat and dog slaughter!!!

Animal Slaughter in Winnebago County!!!

Help us stop it with a phone call or email!


In August of 2003, Adopt Shelter Animals Please (ASAP, an animal
protection group in Rockford, IL) contacted Winnebago County Animal
Services (WCAS) to find out how many animals were being euthanized
annually. After initially stalling, the director of Animal Services,
Gary Longanecker, finally provided rough figures – but only
after the County Chairman forced him to do so. At that point, ASAP
discovered that between 5,000 and 6,000 animals (cats, dogs, etc.)
were being killed with little outreach effort to involve the public.

Since then, ASAP has been strung along for months, even after
proposing cost-free ways to help WCAS reduce its euthanasia rate.
Their proposal included the promotion of remote adoptions, television
and newspaper advertisements, and referencing breed rescue books
– all effective ways to save animals from certain death. ASAP
also told WCAS that its members would be willing to help out at the
county facility on a volunteer basis. Following more stalling that
lasted from February to June (2004), ASAP enrolled in WCAS volunteer
program this past summer. There were three meetings that members of
ASAP were required to attend, totally approximately 7 hours of their
time.

Once the orientation meetings were completed, members of ASAP were
informed that nobody intended on “mentoring” any
volunteers in the near future. In other words, this was another
attempt to further stall, thereby keeping ASAP from seeing what goes
on behind closed doors at the WCAS facility.

Also in the last couple weeks, it has become obvious that WCAS has a
relationship with our local Petland store that is notorious for
getting its dogs from puppy mills. In the Rock River Times (9/29-10/5
issue), there is a picture (and story) of Gary Longanecker taking a
$1400.00 check from Petland’s owner, Dean Johnson. Why would a
shelter take money from someone who contributes to the problem of pet
overpopulation?

Over the past year these concerns have been discussed with Animal
Services and county board members (including two different County
Chairmen) along with protests outside the Animal Services facility and
the submission of multiple Freedom of Information Act requests
(including one from a lawyer).

Please call the following people to tell them that they can’t
continue killing thousands of animals every year:

Gary Longanecker, Director of Animal Service
*(Demand that he entertain the ASAP proposal to adopt out animals)
606 Frances Avenue
Love Park, IL 61111
815-636-8654

Tammy Stevenson, Veterinarian at Animal Services
(Ask her to disassociate from the facility if they won’t change
policy)
6335 Tate Road
Rockford, IL 61101
815-968-2118

Donna Apgar, Auxiliary Chair
(Demand that she “mentor” volunteers immediately)
844 Firefly Drive
Machesney Park, IL 61115
815-877-5983