By Pat Lawrence
Sometimes
it must seem like it really is raining cats and dogs to the dedicated
staffers of animal shelters. The Kanawha/ Charleston Humane Association,
with 120 adult dog cages, is always full. The Wood County Humane Society
can take care of 100 animals. Space is always an issue, but this is
the season for cats. Shelters have their cages filled with kittens.
Cindy Mowery, director of the Wood County Society says "We are
taking in twenty kittens a day. We simply don't have room to keep
them and still take care of all the other animals that need shelter."
Charleston is taking in between twenty and thirty a day as well.
One helpful idea in Parkersburg is the newly initiated foster program.
Individuals take a waiting dog or cat home temporarily to ease the
overcrowding, and give the animals some extra time to find a home.
"After five days, if an animal isn't claimed, the future can
be very grim. We keep them as long as we can, hoping that someone
will come in and take them home. With this new program, people who
want to help, who might have time for the summer to take care of a
pet or who would like to see if a pet is right for them, can do so
without a long term commitment. Fostering a dog or cat is tremendously
rewarding and you don't have to leave home or spend money to do it.
Saving these sweet animals is the best volunteer work someone could
choose to do."
One big advantage for fostered pets is the diligence of their temporary
owners. "They screen potential owners even more carefully than
we do! The people who foster are committed, caring people who take
their position seriously. They know that they may be the only ones
keeping that animal from death. They may be the last chance the dog
or cat has for a good life. Or any life." Cindy says flatly.
"We are just killing too many healthy animals."
The foster program is especially important for new mothers and their
litters. "It is very stressful for the animals to have their
babies in this environment," Cindy says. "Mommas and babies
do much better in foster homes. And it gives us extra room for another
animal. One day can mean a life. If we can place a pet in a home for
a week or two, we may be able to find a permanent home for them."
Expanding the opportunity to find a home is a major issue for the
shelters. In Charleston, although they do not have an official foster
program, they rely on volunteers to take animals home when the population
gets too great. Director Donna Clark says "There are too many
animals and not enough homes. We need everyone to understand how critical
it is to spay and neuter pets. Until then, we count on people with
open hearts to care for these animals who have no place to go."
Another helpful initiative has been to work with the various breed
rescue societies in surrounding states. Cindy says "We get many
pure bred dogs. There are rescue societies for almost all major breeds.
Anyone who travels or wants to help, can volunteer to transport dogs
to the rescue societies. They find homes with people who are interested
in that particular breed."
"We will try every way to save an animal. We help anyone spay
or neuter their pet. We tell people to properly ID and license their
animals. If your pet is lost, even for ten minutes, call us and come
down everyday; your description may not be enough."
"Last month we killed 250 cats and 90 dogs. These animals have
no home and no hope without our help. We are their caretakers and
we must do better - they deserve more than death from us. People who
adopt and people who foster are the angels they need." Cindy
says.
"It is just that we need so many more."
The
Humane Society of Parkersburg, at the corner of 29th and Poplar
off Murdoch Avenue, is open Monday through Friday from 10-5 and Saturday
from 10-4. Ph. 304-422-5541
The Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association, 1248 Greenbriar Street,
is open 7 days a week, Monday through Saturday from 12-6 and on Sunday
12-5. Ph. 304-342-1576
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