Pet overpopulation is a myth

2bully

I think the old saying "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" is appropiate. How does one change government? The basics of been outlined its up to you and those with like minds to adapt the programs to fit your communities. Its not a one size fits all solution.

Unfortunately, the tactic I've seen work most effectively in local governments around my area is negative press.  If you watch the government meetings on local access or read their minutes online when they're available, you can see shelter officials/volunteers/community members approaching them begging for money and reporting difficulties, bad conditions, etc.  The officials pooh-pooh them, claim they have no money, etc, etc, etc.  Then, someone leaks pictures or hidden video to the press and FINALLY the local government begrudgingly allocates some funds and local humane societies eager for press as the "savior" reaches out to the shelter they'd previously shunned and bad mouthed and starts working with them.  It is often a political mess and it's the animals that suffer in the end.

You can say volunteer.  You can say get involved, etc.  Donate, do whatever you can, etc.  But many people can't volunteer at a kill shelter it's too much for them.  I personally can't volunteer at my county's facility, it's just horrible.  I did rescue my cat from there and have made some donations, but just to walk in, you'd vomit from the smell, not to mention my fear of what I'd bring back to my own animals.  Pretty much, the animal community at large here, animal lovers, vets, local rescues, etc. is waiting for some press undercover expose to help these animals out, but it hasn't happened and the local government doesn't give a rat's patootie about it.  Really good, dedicated, caring people work there, but they can only do so much. 

2bully

 Finally you understand? That strategies are available and all one needs to do is tailor, modify, adapt, and size it to meet their needs.

Those are objectives, sure, but that's not a strategic or tactical answer, that's an idealistic pie-in-the-sky answer.  The blame is being placed in the wrong spot, IMO.  The people to blame are the dog owners themselves, not government employees.  I fail to see how the shelter manager is at fault for not being able to grow money on trees, if the issue at hand is owner retention.  A retroactive approach might work for a little while and for a fair number of cases but I don't think that's the best solution, especially since based on what you are posting it's an impossible solution in many areas.  Pet owners and whoever it is distributing pets need to be more proactive to begin with.  BYBs, pet stores, puppy mills...they don't do any for of screening or offer support.  People make impulse buys and get in over their head, and suddenly the local ACO is at fault?

Shelters and rescues don't share in any of the blame? There is nothing more they can do? Voluntary spay and nuetering is in the 60% range nation wide yet the finger inevitable points to breeders as the culprit. There is evidence that proves that manditory spay and nueter doesn't decrease shelter populations but rather increases them.

You all remember Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona , who painted the jail
cells pink and made the inmates wear pink prison garb. Well......... 
SHERIFF JOE IS AT IT AGAIN! 
Oh, there's MUCH more to know about Sheriff Joe! 
Maricopa County was spending approx. $18 million dollars a year on
stray animals, like cats and dogs. Sheriff Joe offered to take the
department over, and the County Supervisors said okay. 
The animal shelters are now all staffed and operated by prisoners.
They feed and care for the strays. Every animal in his care is taken out
and walked twice daily. He now has prisoners who are experts in animal
nutrition and behavior. They give great classes for anyone who'd like
to adopt an animal. He has literally taken stray dogs off the street,
given them to the care of prisoners, and had them place in dog shows. 
The best part? His budget for the entire department is now under $3
million. Adopting a Weimaraner from a Maricopa County
shelter two years ago. He was neutered, and current on all shots, in great
health, and even had a microchip inserted the day we got him. Cost us
$78. 
The prisoners get the benefit of about $0.28 an hour for working, but
most would work for free, just to be out of their cells for the day.
Most of his budget is for utilities, building maintenance, etc. He pays
the prisoners out of the fees collected for adopted animals. 
 

I don't quite know where you got your information about Sheriff Joe, although I did see it on some rumor website, or something like that. However that was about the only place. Snopes has mention of how this is false and tells what I believe is probably the real story. If you go to the Maricopa Animal Control website, you will not find any mention of Sheriff Joe.

Sheriff Joe, from what I've found out, did not take over Maricopa County Animal control. What he did was create and open a no-kill animal shelter to house and care for animals that have been abused or neglected by their caretakers. These animals had been rescued by the Cruelty Investigative unit. These animals are being provided with a safe place while waiting the outcome of the cruelty case against their owners.

Small pets belonging to individuals who check into domestic violence centers may also be kept here. The animal may stay here for up to 60 days. Athough the owner will not be charged for this service, their animal must be up to date on shots and any medical expenses that occur, while they are in the facility, the owner will be responsible for.

One other thing I'd like to mention.....From one of many statements on the Maricopa Animal Control website, it appears as though they are very in favor of spay and neuter.

The Big Fix (no-cost spay/neuter program) helps reduce the unwanted pet population through the spaying and neutering of cats and dogs.