As a pet lover, I am horrified by the idea that HES might be allowed to fail. I have always followed HES on Facebook to see the good work that they do, as well as the great need that they always have. They are an amazing organization and for Mr. Hullander to say, "I feel sorry for them, but it is just like the poor people we deal with all the time," is, in my opinion, callous and insensitive.
The money that HES does not have to cover taxes is not due to personal complications that are laid on any one individual. The money that they lack are due to complications of a community. In fact, not just Hamilton County, but surrounding communities that cannot handle the influx of animals from people who have gotten themselves in too deep with their own animals.
It is due to a collection of people who, for whatever reason, are not handling their pets. That comes in many forms, and not all are the downfall of the individual person. As you are all probably aware, HES takes in surrendered pets for a variety of reasons, be it personal crisis, natural disaster, or the malicious people who dump puppies and kittens in a ditch. Regardless, all of these situations require money and supplies.
As a lifelong Chattanoogan, HES is part of my earliest memories. When my father was a graduate student and my parents were working multiple jobs, we would take our dogs to HES during their rabies clinics that they held in the 1980s. One of the dogs that I have now was born in the old facility when his mother was taken in.
I realize that McKamey is also out there, and I have had a lot of interaction with them as well. The thing that we have to remember as a larger community is that they are both overrun with animals. If HES fails, McKamey cannot be far behind. It's too much to expect for one organization to maintain alone.
Alice Turner