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South Bend Redevelopment Commission Regular Meeting —June 14, 2011 Refuge and Heartland Small Animal Rescue to keep from having to euthanize healthy, adoptable animals. SBA CC has also worked with Michiana Feral Cat Initiative to help humanely reduce stray cat overpopulation in South Bend through TNR. (The St. Joseph County Humane Society will not even work with local rescue groups who are willing to pull dogs and cats, even though it would save the lives of hundreds of animals within the system). A new shelter, at a cost of an additional $300, 000, would do much to allow SBA CC to improve their efforts and would improve the environment for employees, potential adopters and the animals alike. How we treat the animals in our community goes to the heart of us as a community and has a huge impact on our image to residents and non - residents alike. SBA CC, as well as SJCHS both display "compassion fatigue" and the euthanasia numbers for each entity reflect that. If South Bend Animal Care and Control services are contracted out to the St. Joseph County Humane Society, any ground that has been gained will be lost in the efforts that have been made to make us a better, more progressive community as it relates to animal welfare. The St. Joseph County Humane Society has a track record of misleading the public and do so to this day. They state they are no -kill when you ask, yet their euthanasia rates are still around 69% and higher. And at the suggested costs proposed to merge, South Bend will end up spending more for services than they ever would with a new shelter under the City of South Bend's control. $300, 000 is not a lot to spend for a building that will service us for many years to come. (Just think about how much money has been spent on Coveleski stadium alone! $300, 000 is a small cost to do a better job at saving lives and providing 11