Budget cuts not only affect people, but also animals
5:22 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2008
City Council members ordered the city administration to cut more than $500,000 from this year’s budget. While it’s forcing city leaders to make some uncomfortable decisions, it’s also forcing them to be creative.
First, it was public protection. Now, city leaders are defending budget cuts that impact animals.
The Police Department is pinching pennies, after being forced to trim $232,208 from its budget, including reductions that impact police dogs and strays.
Officers are now using scrutiny before picking up animals needing veterinary attention, said Topeka Police Capt. Ron Brown. Instead of taking the animal to a vet in the middle of the night, when it’s more expensive, they might wait until the next day.
Also because of budget cuts, Brown said the police department will no longer pay for all the medical treatment police dogs need. Instead, the department is depending on volunteer vets to take care of them, he said.
“We are in no way denying treatment to an animal, or anything of that nature,” said Brown. “We’re just simply trying to utilize other resources that we have available to provide those same services, or as close to those same services as we possibly can.”
The Zoo was ordered to cut $12,689 from its budget. Among the budget reductions, response to animal care and preventive health care.
Mike Coker, Zoo director, said animals that appear healthy may have to wait several weeks for their routine physicals.
“We’re fine, we have standards that we follow,” Coker said. “We’re not putting anything in danger at all. We’re very up front about what we’re doing and we’re not going to compromise any of our healthcare standards, animal standards, at all.”
2008 City Budget Stories
- Topeka budget cuts sink in (March 24, 2008)
- All fire trucks, stations running as scheduled (March 24, 2008)
- Fire department forced to cut costs (March 21, 2008)
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