The first thing you notice when you drive up to the Central Missouri Humane Society (the closest humane society to us now that we've moved), are dogs. These are the lucky dogs- the get both a tiny indoor room and a tiny outdoor run. Very small dogs and younger puppies only have an indoor place room- the rooms are the same size for dogs of any size. This is evened out by dogs like the Great Dane having a room to themselves and keeping litters of small puppies together.
Several Chihuahuas undergoing "temperament testing" lived in tiny cages, as do the rabbits. Even tinier cages held a rat and a guinea pig. There was also a ferret. There was a sign on his cage saying "vet staff" either it belonged to the vet staff as a pet, or was being treated.
The worst part was the cats! A tiny cage about the size of a medium sized bird cage held a mother cat and three kittens.
Ever sadder was the behavior of the animals! A rabbit was chewing on the newspaper lining in its cage out of sheer boredom.
An adorable black and white cat (a tuxedo cat, explained a volunteer, "all dressed up- now he just needs a place to go.") was sticking its paws through the cage bars, just wanting to be petted. How I wished that I could give it that place!
A litter of lab mix puppies were whining like crazy in front of the cage door. A couple dogs were barking and trying to knock out their "room" doors. Four Rottweiler mix pups, large, tough looking dogs, were making a pathetic squeaking noise.
I wish that I could foster some of these animals. This is a "low killing" shelter. They will euthanize animals if the
shelter is getting crowded, unless someone fosters them. for a time they were killing all bulldogs, pitbulls, and bull terriers as soon as they got them. It was only until recently that they became adoptable.
I wish that I would be able to help some of these poor animals.
The dogs you refer to as the lucky ones, who have an inside/outside run are animals that are in stray hold, meaning someone has brought them in as stray, dogs animal control has picked up, or an owner relinquished pet. The lost/stray dogs have a 5 day period for the owner to reunite, and if not after the 5 day holding becomes property of the shelter. They then go thru a behavior test as well as the owner relinquised pets to determine if they are suitable for adoption and then get moved over to the indoor kennels.
ReplyDeleteIn 2009, 2010 and 2011 they euthanized 45-50% of the animals that walked thru their doors. Hopefull the new executive director will create much needed change; change hours open to the public that is more family friendly, change to take advantage of the volunteers who are willing and ready to help, change to promote more adoption specials instead of euthanizing, more off site adoptions for those who have a difficult time going to the shelter, change to realize the public is your solution....your volunteer, foster, supporter, and donor, and not the problem.
You can help some of these poor animals! Become a volunteer and provide some much needed attention to the cat reaching thru the cage, go into the kennel and give some TLC to the pups who are whining. Share their pics on FB or on this blog as well as adoption events. You will help these poor animals! Thanks for sharing your experience. I used to volunteer and was rewarding knowing you made a few of the 4 legged friends feel special for a short period of time, which is better than nothing while they wait in hopes of a forever new home.
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