GUEST COLUMN: Columbia faces animal care crisis

COLUMBIA — There is good news about how communities across the country have provided for the care and control of homeless animals. Great news, really. Ten years ago in the United States, an estimated 15 to 20 million animals were euthanized each year. We are now down to about 5 million. Given the increases in human population since then, this turnaround is amazing! What is also amazing is that we don't hear about this news in Columbia. All we hear is that there are too many animals with not enough homes and the only cost-effective solution is to euthanize them. There are communities all across the United States and Canada that have permanently solved the problem of homeless animals in a way that has saved taxpayers money. Columbia is progressive in many ways and we need to follow the lead of these successful programs.