A PERSON would have to have a heart of stone to look at the front page of today’s Essence section and not be moved. Who can look at the faces of those dogs and cats at the Emporia Animal Shelter without wanting to scoop them all up and take them home?
Who could resist Cecil, the playful yellow tabby? Then there is Corbin, the German shepherd mix whose friendly gaze and alert posture promise that he will be an affectionate, intelligent pet. Patsy, the treeing Walker coonhound, is a gorgeous dog who would make an excellent companion for people who like to walk.
What is wrong with these animals that they do not have homes? Nothing.
A number of the animals in the shelter are there not because they got lost or strayed, but because their owners could not care for them anymore. From single working life to cross-country moves, no-pet apartments and nursing homes, modern life puts a lot of obstacles in the way of keeping pets. Good folks, when faced with parting with a loved pet, do all they can to find a good home. Failing that, they turn to the shelter.
The shelter isn’t a bad place. The cats and dogs are kept warm and dry. They get plenty of food and water. They get exercise. As much as possible, they get — and give — affection.
But the shelter is not a home and the animals cannot stay there forever. Right now, Patsy and Corbin are among the dogs and cats who are running out of time. If someone does not give them a home or another shelter does not take them, they will be put to sleep.
Is there room in your home, heart and life for a new companion? If there is, then visit the shelter.
Is your home already full of pets — and maybe one or two extra? The shelter could use your help anyway. People can donate supplies, time or money to help care for the cats and dogs who are waiting to find homes.
Do what you can.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
The shelter is at 1216 Hatcher St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. seven days a week. The phone number is 340-6345.
petlover (anonymous) says...
Thanks Pat for all your words of compassion & encouragement through the years for our local shelter.
Unfortunately, our local shelter still relies upon the old "deposit" method of guarantee that the pet getting adopted will be spayed or neutered. A lost deposit is cheaper than the act. Records can prove that many never have this operation, therefore adding more pets to this vicious cycle of pet over-population.
Sadly, this can easily be eliminated by simply demanding the 'adopted' shelter pet be picked up the next day at the local vet after having it's surgical procedure. Why is it so hard for the city to realize they would be doing everybody a favor by doing this? It would actually save taxpayers money, rather than having to take the dog or cat back 6 months later with a litter of offspring.
Many realize the domestic pet problems are the last on the list when it comes to money in this town, but sometimes it just takes a little common sense to see the big picture.
March 29, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Firecracker (anonymous) says...
A few rambling thoughts on the subject.................
National humane organizations take in between $35-45 MILLION dollars a year from OUR communities, and virtually NONE of that money returns to help local shelters and rescues do the work of sheltering, adopting, and sterilizing the unwanted animals. So Emporians, when you choose to donate - donate locally to shelters and rescues that serve your communities.
And then WHY should the public have a clue if they don't hear SPAY NEUTER SPAY NEUTER SPAY NEUTER on TV/Radio/Newsprint, and from their personal veterinarians?
They don't have a clue. And, really, the vast majority of the public is oblivious. They're living in warp-speed, in their own little worlds, and when fluffy has a litter and they are able to give all the litter way, (and even give fluffy if fluffy poops in the wrong place) these people firmly believe that there IS no problem finding homes. After all, they just gave a whole litter a new home.. just like that. THEN, all of those offspring (and Fluffy herself) go out into the world to reproduce litter after litter after litter.
It's not enough to simply find homes for the unwanted animals of our community. To truly end the suffering, every animal that exits the municipal shelter SHOULD BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED BEFORE going to their adoptive homes. Because truth be told, only 50% or less of the folks who adopt these pets from the shelter ever get them spayed or neutered. That 50% year after year, reproduces at an exponential rate continually feeding the never-ending trail of unwanted animals that end up in our local shelter and rescue. Simply adopting and finding good homes for these needy animals is NOT ENOUGH. The reproduction cycle has to be ended. When the shelter adopts out an intact animal it is just opening the door to several litters of puppies and kittens a year per each animal that goes out the door -- dozens come right back in. At this rate, tax dollars funding the shelter will continue to rise.
The City of Emporia should look closely at Peter Marsh's Spay/Neuter Model for the State of New Hampshire to guide their decision making process for the animal shelter.
http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehome...
Take the time to read about LEGISLATION-EDUCATION-STERILIZATION methodology.
http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehome...
TALK minus ACTION = ZERO
Shelters and rescues cannot win the fight against pet overpopulation alone. And it is only fair that everyone should pitch in. Just because we've come forward to rescue animals from other people's failures is no reason why the job should fall to us alone. Pet overpopulation isn't a shelter problem; it's everyone's problem. Or should be. And everyone stands to gain by solving it.
March 30, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Firecracker (anonymous) says...
http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehome...
March 30, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
under_score (anonymous) says...
Good comments. I actually feel that we need to have laws that bar the sale or ownership of pets that have not been spayed or neutered.
I don't think private owners should be allowed to breed their pets without special permits that should cost a fair amount of money. This will lead to all pets costing money to own which would hopefully eliminate people owning pets and not taking care of them.
Pets are not livestock and should not be treated as such. Stiff penalties including jail time for the mistreatment of pets are also a must. The goal should be to have fewer pets than there are people wanting them. At that point demand would be greater than supply. The result would be more pets making their way into loving homes instead of tied up in the back yard for their entire lives or dumped out in the country to fend for themselves.
April 1, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
When we talk about mistreatment of animals and the "old deposit method" we should also talk in the same breath about the old and antiquated way animals at our local shelter are put down. Crated in small cages, stacked on top of each other, scared, put in a chamber. Start the hissing gas. The animals, many who may be barking or whining feel dizzy and start to pass out. As they die, they may be urinating or deficating on each other as they take their last breath. How a humane society can say this is humane is beyond me. How awful for all those wonderful compassionate people working there to have to load that chamber with animals. Our city needs to make the changes necessary to switch our facility to an intravenous injection euthanasia. We owe more to our furry friends than a death in this manner.
April 1, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )