Volunteers not wanted
Connie Coleman
Friday, July 6, 2007
I WAS A VOLUNTEER at the Emporia Animal Shelter where I walked dogs and cleaned cages four nights a week as well as played with the cats and gave all the animals some much needed love and attention.
Over spring break in March, all of the volunteers including myself were told that the volunteer program was being dropped. We were not given any reasons why. We only heard rumors of reasons from employees of the shelter who never met us or came out to see the work we were doing. We are all caring responsible adults who never put ourselves or the animals in danger.
I was told by the manager of the shelter that they wanted to start the program back up as soon as they worked out some things.
It has now been three months, and I have heard absolutely nothing. I’m very concerned for the welfare of the animals at the shelter. It is beautiful weather and longer daylight hours so the dogs could get out in the evenings and have much needed positive socialization. I am very upset and frustrated with our shelter now.
At one time, when I first started, things were looking positive. Now they’ve even done away with the volunteers. I’ve never heard of any place not wanting help from volunteers. I just wanted the public to be aware especially if you’re a big-hearted animal lover like me.
My voice has not been listened to and I’ve tried all kinds of resources. Maybe someone else can help.
hottopics (anonymous) says...
The city shelter and animal issues seem to be on the back burner yet again.
I think that three months is ridiculous to straighten something out. Shame on them and what a shame for the animals.
July 7, 2007 at 9:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
As far as I know, this is not a no-kill shelter, either. So, maybe they're killing animals before they are supposed to? (I don't know, just guessing).
What a shame. And yet another reason to say "I'm from Kansas" instead of saying "I'm from Emporia, Kansas."
July 8, 2007 at 1:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sciguy (anonymous) says...
We have, on the whole, a very good animal shelter program in Emporia.
I hope that this is merely a glitch, and not an indication of a serious problem.
The animals who are helped by the animal shelter deserve our support and assistance, as a city and as individuals. I hope that the volunteer program is fixed and returned to operation as soon as possible.
July 8, 2007 at 5:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
disgruntledcitizen (anonymous) says...
Wow, How can you come to the conclusion that they might be killing animals before they are supposed to with what was said above??? All the sudden they are just killing animals because they don't have volunteers right now???? That is crazy to make a statement like that without knowing facts!!! I agree it is strange that they are turning away volunteers but I highly doubt they are doing it so they can get rid of animals faster!!!
July 8, 2007 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
My wife and I recently got a dog from the shelter and saw absolutely no evidence of animals being indiscriminantly killed.
July 8, 2007 at 1:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaE (anonymous) says...
Geez. Calm down. I said it was a guess.
M
July 8, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
daveedailey (anonymous) says...
Of course, you would not know about the killing of animals! It is very strange that a volunteer program like this would be dropped. Sounds really fishy to me. Looks to me like now would be the best time of the year for volunteers, because people seem to have a little more time especially students. I would really like more information on this subject. Also, Melissa, I know from some of your posts that you take in strays, so maybe what you say is true.
July 9, 2007 at 8:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Masons (anonymous) says...
Nice article. I dont think anyone likes to put down an animal under no circumstances. It is part of society. But when you have a volunteer program of people who are putting in free time with no obligations to give animals a little attention and you discontinue it with no explanations it seems weird. I think it is a blessing that you have people who want to volunteer because it is hard to get volunteers. I think it is good for the animals and good for some people. the program needs to be reevaluated.
July 9, 2007 at 10:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Heartland_Rescuer (anonymous) says...
The city animal shelter and animal issues in general will always be a "back burner" issue in our community because the decision makers of our city are more concerned about economic development than animal welfare. Saving companion animals is low on their priority list. Public safety and fiscal development are much more important to them. Most generally, this is the case with municipally funded shelters.
The animal shelter in Emporia needs to be reformed in more than one aspect. Emporia is a long way from becoming a “low-kill” community, but there are steps that can be taken to move in the right direction. The bottom line is that too many animal control departments in the Midwest have a stake in doing what they have always done. Going a different and more successful route would mean accepting some of the blame for causing barrels to fill day after day with furry bodies. Complain though many animal control agents might about the stress of euthanizing companion animals, they still find it easier to do than doing what is necessary to stop it.
A simple blueprint to follow for improving our shelter operations is the implementation of certain programs and services crucial to lowering the death rate. The top three programs are: (1) Running a COMPREHENSIVE ADOPTION PROGRAM that operates during weekend and evening hours and includes offsite adoption venues. (2) RESCUE GROUP access to shelter animals. Transferring them to licensed rescues with foster care networks to save their lives. (3) VOLUNTEER programs to socialize animals, promote adoptions, and help in the operations of the shelter.
The only way our local shelter will change is with strong leadership supervising the daily operations of the shelter. This means, someone who studies animal welfare trends and issues and can develop a comprehensive plan to a long-term solution in our community. The volunteer program is one of the crucial components of change in our animal sheltering environment in Emporia. Without it, our shelter is merely a holding tank with a line to the gas chamber.
July 9, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kelonia (anonymous) says...
When I volunteered there a year and a half ago the Shelter was a 'kill' shelter. But the shelter manager worked extremely hard to get animals together with rescue groups. The other employees were involved with that too, and with the volunteers. Sounds like a lot has happened for the worse when the manager at that time left. What a shame :-(
July 9, 2007 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spendit (anonymous) says...
That is really sad, because I was in there the other day and the guy at the counter was doing nothing and every single one of the cat cages had litterboxes filled to the brim with poop and then they started pooping on their beds and it smelled horrible, and I thought to myself,:" How can he just sit there and not do anything?"
July 11, 2007 at 11:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lisag (anonymous) says...
Have any of the guys they've hired at the shelter been there because they want to help the animals? Or just to get the paycheck &/or a stepping stone to other law enforcement? If they would allow volunteers to help more with the day to day chores, more time & effort could be spent trying to actively adopt the adoptable pets. Or is it just easier when their time is up (72hrs.) to just throw them in the gas chamber, push the button & walk away. Less poop to scoop. Is it any wonder when they built the new shelter, they wanted to be sure the euthanasia room was sound proof? Heaven forbid the howls of the dying might seep into their conscience at night, making them realize they hadn't done everything possible to find homes for the ones they just got tired of cleaning up after.
July 15, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )