The Miami-Dade County Commission has approved a plan that will stop the killing of adoptable dogs and cats in county shelters.
Commissioners approved the plan at a meeting Tuesday.
But to stop the killings, the county will have to budget about $20 million. Taxes will increase, costing taxpayers about $20 a year per household.
"Nobody is going to vote to kill animals, it's not going to happen," Commissioner Esteban “Steve” Bovo said. "But we have to by crystal clear in this language what it means to the taxpayer."
The plan was sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe’’ Diaz.
Animal Services Department Director, Alex Munoz, told the commission the measure would save animals and reduce the stray animal population through sterilization. He said about 90 percent of the animals would be saved.
In Miami-Dade, about 20,000 dogs and cats are killed at a cost of $300 each per year.
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Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida