Voting For Frisco Pets
Early voting starts on Monday, April 22nd, for the City of Frisco. Before you head to the polls, we ask you to please take a moment to consider what you’re voting for and who you’re voting for.
Are you to assume the City of Frisco is spending your money wisely and on the additions and improvements you want and more importantly need? Will your candidates of choice speak up for what you want and need?
There’s been a lot of talk about the Library but did you know the bond is also fronting bike and hike trails, a parks education center, downtown plaza, an intelligent transportation system, a public works facility expansion,… (The complete bond presentation is located at this link— https://friscotexas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/17862/2019-Bond-Election-Final-Presentation
We at Frisco’s Pet Project, a group of Frisco residents and pet advocates, would never want to deny the needs of others, but we feel the City of Frisco is neglecting the needs of its pets and pet owners. Frisco’s Pet Project volunteers have been talking to Frisco Council, City Management, Frisco Animal Services, and other City Departments and so far, they are not open to discussing plans for a future Frisco pet rescue and adoption center. Did you know it took years for Frisco residents to gain city support for a dog park? A park that the Frisco citizens are still raising funds to help the city maintain? Frisco’s Pet Project has met with several Council members and they too would like us to become a 501c3 to partner with them for this public service.
Two years ago, we were told that a Frisco pet rescue and adoption center would require a bond and it would be very unlikely that Frisco residents would support this tax increase. We are still being told this today. Try as we may, Frisco’s Pet Project has yet to find a city champion for our Frisco pets. The likelihood for discussions for a future Frisco pet rescue and adoption center to move forward are extremely low without Frisco Council and City Management support.
We’ve been told that a Frisco pet rescue and adoption center would take anywhere from 6 to 15 million dollars to build and an annual operational budget of a nearly a million dollars. Based on a $400 per a finished square foot, this adds up to be a 15k to 37.5k square foot center?!? While this would be a grand vision, Frisco’s Pet Project is first proposing a much smaller 72-hour holding center for Frisco Animal Services and our Frisco pets, at a much smaller cost.
Did you know The Colony with its 42K population and 16 mile land area has a rescue center and adoption center with six employees and operates on an annual budget of only $433K? The Colony has a live release rate of 97%—a celebrated no-kill shelter rating. Frisco with its 185K population, covering nearly 71 square miles, has 7 employees, six trucks, and no center—Frisco pets are taken daily to CCAS in McKinney—and operates on a budget over a $1 million.
So, before you vote, ask your Council candidates where they stand on a future Frisco pet rescue and adoption center? How long do you think it is going to take before Frisco decides to keep its Frisco pets in Frisco? Will they be a champion for our pets while they sit on the council?
It is time for Frisco residents who love animals to step up and engage in the political process. It is time to speak up for those that can’t. There is plenty of time to ask questions and seek answers before our election is over in May. Say Yes to Pets and sign up today!