Pet Talk

www.houltonanimalshelter.com
By Heather Miller
    Wow, do we have cats coming out of our ears! It seems like for every one that we adopt out, we get three more in. Our goal is to eventually shut down the old building by the winter, to save on electric and oil bills, but it doesn't seem to be working in our favor. Every time we get the numbers down, we seem to fill the building back up again. And through these continuous cycles, I can't help but notice a trend that seems to be happening more and more with animals. I must tell you this trend is breaking my heart and our wallets. It's the dumping of animals. I know times are tough for everyone right now. Trust me, no one knows the expenses that come with having pets more than all of us at the shelter, but there has to be a better option for these poor animals than dumping them in the middle of the night in the woods, someone's lawn or in the shelter driveway.
    In the last few weeks, we have had over 25 cats and one dog dumped in our yard when no one was there. These animals sat all night alone and scared with no food or water until someone got there in the morning. I guess my biggest question is "Why?" Why just leave? Is it money? Is it pride? Or is it something beyond all of my understanding? Why should these poor animals suffer for people's problems? They didn't ask to be born or dropped off somewhere. They didn't ask to be abandoned.
    When the girls get to the shelter in the morning and find cats or dogs someone left, it is extremely stressful on everyone. It breaks all of our hearts to see them alone and scared. Our first thought is why? Where did they come from? Then they have to make room for these animals. It involves moving other cats around, confusing the animals and trying to juggle it all before they even start their regular routine of cleaning and feeding. And guess what? They end up in one of the cages in our old building, pushing us father from our goal of closing it down.
    When people call the shelter and ask if we have room for four or five cats and the girls say there isn't any room, they aren't saying it to be rude – it's the truth. We are full. We can find room, but it's a lot of juggling and stress on both the girls and the animals. The animals are cramped, exhausted and lonely because by the time all of these cages get cleaned, there isn't a lot of time to spend with the animals.
    We are all here for the same reason – the pets. We all want to help them, but dropping them off in the night is not the answer. There has to be a better solution. Call us and tell us your story. Come see us. I'm sure we can help you find other options. Lets work this out together, so no more need to spend the night outside alone and cold.