Democratic caucuses are today
Democratic caucuses for legislative District 4 will be held at 10 a.m. today at North Pines Middle School, 701 N. Pines Road, to elect state delegates for the Clinton and Obama presidential campaigns.
Check-in begins at 9:15 a.m. For more information, call Sally Jackson at 924-0746.
– Staff reports
Volunteers wanted for panhandling committee
Spokane Valley has announced four volunteer openings for a temporary committee on panhandling. The seven-member committee will research regional efforts to determine the source of and solutions to panhandling throughout the city.
A main focus of the committee members will be gaining an understanding of how to educate the public on the topic of panhandling. Members will need to identify strategies for the public to help foster long-term options to panhandling and advise the City Council on their study findings.
The Council will use this information along with committee recommendations to implement programs designed to assist panhandlers and provide them alternatives to panhandling.
Applications are due April 14. To request an application, visit Spokane Valley’s Web site and click “volunteer opportunities” or call 688-0177
– Staff reports
SPOKANE COUNTY
Campaign encourages pet licensing
Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service and the American Humane Association are kicking off “Every Day is Tag Day” by offering amnesty on all late licensing and encouraging all pet owners to license their pets today.
Tag Day is a public awareness campaign that unites thousands of shelters, veterinary clinics, and animal protection agencies across the country in an effort to emphasize the importance of an identification tag for insuring lost animals have a voice.
“Without an ID tag, a lost pet can sit in the shelter for days while we try to locate an owner,” said SCRAPS director Nancy Hill. “Meanwhile, that limits the space and resources available to care for other animals.”
According to the American Humane Association, approximately 8 million to 12 million pets are admitted to shelters across the country each year. “In Spokane, most lost pets without ID tags are not reunited with their families,” Hill said. The numbers are worse for cats than for dogs. SCRAPS reunites about 2 percent of cats with their families, while 32 percent of lost dogs are reunited with their families.
SCRAPS licensing fees support fighting animal cruelty, and pet overpopulation through the spay/neuter voucher program.
County licensing fees are $20 for spayed or neutered dogs, $15 for spayed or neutered cats, $40 for intact dogs, and $25 for intact cats. For more information on licensing your pet, contact SCRAPS at 477-2532.
– Staff reports