Not Furry Friends, Furry Family

Whether it's dogs, cats, or whatnot – our pets are more than just animals, they're part of our families. The love we feel for our animals isn't any less real just because it's an animal. From my childhood dogs of Shane, to Hootch, to my current rescued mixed Labrador and my aquarium of fish – I've always had animals in my life.

In tough economic times, it's easy to forget about our animals – justifying slashing funding to worthy non-profits like Hi-Tor Animal Shelter. It's easy to dismiss animal shelters as a luxury we just can't afford in lean years. Instead, we should be promoting rescue shelters like Hi-Tor, not slashing their funding. They provide a critical service for the county, taking in lost, abandoned, and sick animals every day. Hi-Tor also helps current pet owners with care advice and spay/neuter services. Without Hi-Tor, fewer pets would receive proper care and more animals would be needlessly destroyed.

Today, I was proud to walk in support of Hi-Tor Animal Shelter because I personally support Hi-Tor, and as County Executive, I will continue to do so.

Rockland County can and should be a friendly place for all pets. Nearly half (46%) of American households have a dog, yet Rockland County has only two county parks with dog runs. Three out of the county's five towns lack county parks with dog runs – when I'm County Executive, that changes. Dog runs are an important recreational opportunity for dogs and their owners.

I know this isn't an issue that will make or break Rockland County. I know this doesn't balance the budget or eliminate the county's $125,000,000 deficit created by the status quo. I know this won't create any jobs. This issue is about doing the right thing, making sure, in tough economic times, we don't forget about our furry friends. After all, they're part of the family.