If you want to move pets through the DCAS faster you need to lower the high adoption fees!

Have u ever thought about setting up something with the older folks homes with having pets? Older folks many times are alone and the bond between a pet helps they enjoy their life in the later years. It gives them a reason to live and they care for the animals as if it were they own children

I used to bring my two boxers to CT nursing homes and the residents adored those visits. Some of the homes have resident pets and I think your idea is wonderful Pete. The fee's at the DCAS are high because the animals are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and you name it. Sending someone home with a sick pet or one capable of breeding more homeless animals is bad policy. The Branford Shelter is one of the best shelters in Ct bar none. Last year I worked with the Animal Legislative Caucus to stop the Ct Humane society from euthanizing hundreds and hundreds of animals at their facility. Euthanized by staff untrained in veterinary medicine and using a controlled substance which is breaking a federal law. So....all in all our shelter here sets a much higher standard than most. Anyone interested in more info on CT Humane Society and the ongoing investigation into their practices from the Ct Attorney General and CGA can post here. I have their financials and euthanization reports. Laura Burdban and her staff go above and beyond and I am honored to work with them on the Commission.

If people cannot afford the adoption fees, then maybe they can't afford the pet...been to the vet lately..bought food???

The fees are in place for a reason. It takes more money than you are paying in adoption fees to give quality care to an injured or abandoned animal. If you can pay the fees in West Haven then you can pay the fees in Branford. These economic times are tough on all of us, but nobody is abandoning us or leaving us homeless. A decision to adopt an animal comes from the heart primarily. The payments are something that we assume to help the the rescues and shelters continue their good work. If one is economically challenged then it's probably not a great idea to adopt from any shelter, because after the initial adoption fees one has to be responsible enough to assume the ongoing medical care for their pets. If one cannot deal with adoption costs what decision will you make regarding the animals' yearly follow up and ongoing inoculation needs? That's part of the decision making so I do not buy the excuse!!!!! EJ Palma , Branford CT.

Well, our cat cost $60 at West Haven plus they give a $25 coupon for nuter at your own vet compaired to Bfd's $150. Our pets have the best care. A homeless/lost cat was hanging around here, called DCAS to locate it's owner or for them to take it in from the bitter cold a few weeks ago and was told we will be put on a long list. Guess what? We took the cat in, brought it to the vet the next day and now have a new member to the house hold. That's is correct about on going care costs to own a pet, but if you have way over crowding in a shelter LOWER THE COST. If a merchant has too much product what to they do? As any good business would do - lower the price. So if you don't buy that excuse you are one of the many that feels just because we are on the hoyti-toyti shoreline everything costs more.

Do what you must but please don't assume that you know what or how I feel about anything. And please stop patting yourself on the back for your choices. You make choices just like all of us and remember one is supposed to provide good care to there animals. My choice is to support the local agencies and small businesses in "our community". I have been a member of the United Way and The Branford Project for many years because I choose to support my community. I have supported the Cosgrove shelter as long as it has been in existence because it is part of my community and they do great work. The overcrowding has nothing to do with costs. It has to do with their needs. They dont have enough space or resources. Maybe you should try making a donation instead of complaining about the whole community. Your attitude is very discriminating and insults the hard working people who are supporting the agencies that you claim are too "hoity-toity" Maybe you need to move to another community. Either that or get over it. If the costs are raised in West Haven what happens then? Do they become "hoity-toity"?

wow $150.00 does sound like a lot vice $60.00 maybe someone needs to take a pay cut I would think 60-75 would be a fair fee but 150.00 now that is a bit too much

We do support animals. In fact, back in the day of the old MIF building we were always feeding the feral colonies. So our hearts are in the right place. We have made monetary donations to animal shelters. We believe in supporting animal causes. But the fee is high. I have a friend who just adoped a cat in Shelton from a foster family and she was told to "make a donation" and I believe she gave $45 and she has a wonderful, spayed cat. $150 is high for anyone. If it was more reasonable maybe more people would find it in their heart to adopt. Then the overcrowding would disipate. The shelter and the Compassion Club ask for donations, donations are made, but when you call them up to assist you, they won't even return your calls. They are not their when you REALLY need them.

I cannot answer for the Branford town employees of the DCAS and the charge they do not return calls. I will say I have not called there in several years that I have not had to listen to a recording and to wait,sometimes days, for a call back. Under the leadership of Laura Burban, an energetic, diligent and hardworking director, the DCAS shelter has become the model it is today and I, for one, am very grateful to all those who saw the need for a director and a commission a few years back and saw to it that it happened. But some of you critics need to remember the shelter enjoys a healthy budget thanks to the Branford taxpayer. However, I take great exception to the gratuitious remark made about the Branford Compassion Club. BCC is staffed by ALL volunteers - not one paid employee - MANY of whom hold down FULL TIME jobs. THese people feed more than a dozen feral colonies throughout the town DAILY. These people go to the BCC shelter on RTE 80 and clean, feed, medicate and socialize 50 -80 cats TWICE A DAY EVERY DAY. There simply may be no one around to return your call immediately. There are so many calls the machine fills daily and usually there are one or two people trying to return sometimes several hundred calls. These people RAISE EVERY DIME BCC takes in. We have NO public funding but must fundraise, seek grants, donations and beg for every penny. We have rent and enormous vet bills to pay, and tons of food, litter and other supplies to purchase.

Furthermore, the cat you adopt for whatever fee may have cost BCC hundreds of dollars for daily upkeep, vet care, meds, etc. If people were responsible with their pets the problem would diminish. But, sadly,they are not. ALL landlords should require that any dog or cat belonging to a tenant be spayed or neutered BEFORE renting to that tenant. AND they should see that animal waving good bye from the window of the departing tenant's car. The point made that if you cannot afford a pet do not get one is a good one. Animals are an expense and frequently a 10 to 20 year commitment. If you're not up to it, do not do it.

I think anyone who leaves their pets behind is heartless How would u feel if someone made u live outside in the cold I look on both sides and before folks just drop them off somewhere they need to see if they would enjoy being treated like that

Money is not the object here. We gratiously took in a stray and just paid all the vet bills to make sure she was healthy and to be healthy for our other cat. If the fee was lowered, maybe the populations at the shelters would subside a bit, allowing room for the next wave of homeless animals. I do believe people have good intentions, but money is tight now a days for most people. We love animals, of all kinds, as we have many in our home. I was just disappointed to not receive a phone call from either organizaion when I needed them, and their advice. So I took matters into my own hands and took in the stray.

sounds like money is the evil maybe someone on the high school can help by doing things or setting up help from fellow students Maybe the town needs to help fund this being they help other humans things now it's time to help out 4 legged compainions

I adopted a dog from Cosgrove for my mother. I feel the $150 was a bargain. She came with all her shots. They paid for her to be spayed/treated for mange and kennel cough. She received house and leash training. A pet store dog would have costed my family many hundreds of dollars more. Also, my family is opposed to adding to retail demand when so many animals are already in need of adoption. We could have gotten a dog for much less at a pound, but we would have assumed many more healthcare bills. Also, low adoption fees can contribute to dogs being returned to shelters by impulse buyers. They also leash/house trained our dog and worked with her to overcome some anxiety issues/ socialization challenges. They took this dog from a New Britain pound because she was going to be euthanized. This action (taken at their expense) saved a wonderful dog. As a no kill shelter, there are dogs that have been there for years. I take great pride in having contributed to this mission. I also adopted a kitten from Branford Compassion Club a few years ago that turned out to be in need of a very expensive operation (> $1000) because of a genetic eye issue. When they say they are committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure the best for their animals they are not kidding. When I called to find out if I could get the cat's medical history before the surgery, I was told they would have their vet perform the surgery at their cost. Today he is a beautiful, sweet cat. These groups are great.

Be that as it may...
1: We are still waiting for a return call since the first week of January from BCC.
2: If over crowding is a problem then reduce the cost is all I'm saying.