Time for Andy Betterton to Step Up in this Crisis

 

If you visit YouTube at all, by now you've seen Florence Mayor Andy Betterton in a public service announcement to promote COVID-19 vaccinations. This is a good thing, and we commend our mayor for taking the time to do this.

Now we have a crisis at Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services on which Betterton has so far refused to act. Let's look back to the administration of Mayor Steve Holt.

While Mayor Holt supported the shelter in many ways, one of his most valued programs was the monthly visit in which he posed for photos to promote animal adoption. Mayor Betterton? By our count, he's visited the shelter a total of two times since his election. We have to believe the support Holt received from shelter workers and animal welfare workers plays a large part in Betterton's disdain for the animal haven.

There are currently two shelter issues which Betterton is now avoiding; however, the current census of confiscated animals is the most pressing. These dogs cannot be adopted out due to the court case. This may take years. No, the shelter needs immediately to place unencumbered animals in public foster care.

Many of us have put this issue before the public, but both animal welfare work and political blogging can be an insular world. We need a public announcement on YouTube and Facebook in order to reach more potential saviors for these dogs.

We would like to see local celebrities volunteer to make a short public service announcement. Note the word "volunteer" in the previous sentence. As for Mayor Andy Betterton, this should be a duty...a duty as yet unfulfilled.