Animal shelter Hokazo in Uden will continue to exist for the time being. Five municipalities in the region have pledged 150,000 euros in financial support for the remainder of this year. These are Maashorst, Bernheze, Boekel, Meierijstad and Land van Cuijk.
The water was on Hokazo’s lips. Board member Bart Jan Meijer paints a gloomy picture. “Without this support we would no longer exist,” he says on Wednesday evening. The shelter suffered a loss of 120,000 euros last year. This deficit was expected to increase further this year.
“Everything has become 25 to 30 percent more expensive.”
Hokazo receives a subsidy every year. But with the huge inflation, that subsidy was not enough to cover all costs. “First the corona crisis, then the energy crisis, the rising inflation. The costs for feed, costs for the vet, fuel costs for the animal ambulance. Everything has simply become more expensive by 25 to 30 percent.”
The subsidy that the animal shelter receives consists of a fixed amount per inhabitant (currently 80 cents). In addition, Hokazo receives a fixed amount per dog or cat, until it is rehomed. For a dog that is 70 euros and for a cat 100 euros. “You have to do everything with that amount. So the shelter, the feed, the vaccinations, the personnel costs. So where you get 70 euros, you lose twice that,” Meijer explains.
“We know that other shelters get more money.”
With the 150,000 euros, Hokazo can at least move forward this year. But is there also a structural solution in sight? “We know from other animal shelters that they get more money. We have also indicated this in our discussions with the municipalities. They were shocked by that. A structural solution will be looked at after the summer.”