TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL)--The Tallahassee-Leon animal center serves more than 9,000 animals a day, but since the center is losing a major source of funding that number could go up or result in more animals being put down.
"Is definitely very difficult but we've got to look at what successes that we've had with that money and how we can find other grants other foundations and other donors to help supplement that," said Erika Leckington.
Erika Leckington says for the last couple years the center has been receiving more than $300,000 dollars of funding from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. But without the capability to provide two vital services--the partnership won't continue.
"The ASPCA has said that not having a spay and neuter clinic and not having a comprehensive community cat program are two of the biggest reasons," said Leckington.
The grant from the ASPCA is used to help cut down on the amount animals that are put down and offer spay and neuter services to decrease overpopulation.
Pet owners like Cynthia Harlow says losing the money is devastating to the community.
"For the animals that we're going to get in the future, for the homeless animals that were coming theres no hope for them really if we've already lost the money," said Harlow.
Harlow says she's also frustrated with the city laws that help prevent animal overpopulation because she says they aren't being enforced. Harlow also added, animal control officers she knows says they fear dropping stray animals off to the shelter. She says they now fear the animals will be put down even more.
But, Leckington says the euthanasia rate was cut down by using funds from the ASPCA but believes it will remain low. She says though they lost the money they'll still get help.
"ASPCA enables us to find other resources in order to continue the programs that they've helped us plan and put in place," said Leckington.
Leckington say they will be meeting with other animal coalitions from across the nation to discuss how they plan to fix these issues in September.
