Animal Shelter News

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

The Columbus County Animal Shelter is not an animal hospital, and Animal Control Director Rossie Hayes wants people to understand that.

“We haven’t got the budget to provide care for hurt animals,” Hayes said. “We do what we can, but if there isn’t someone who can take care of the bill, there isn’t much we can do but put the animal down.”

The case of an injured dog on U.S. 74-76 recently was a good example.

Beverly and Greg Farley were called by Columbus County Humane Society volunteer Pat Lambert after a Rottweiler was reported injured at the Union Valley Road exit.
“They were close by,” Lambert said, “and offered to help.”

The Farleys have 11 dogs, including several rescue animals and one foster dog awaiting a new home. They arrived at the Union Valley exit while Hayes was loading the injured dog into a county truck, with the aid of another passing motorist.

When Farley saw the dog, she knew two things – the animal was hurt, and she wasn’t a stray.

“She was a sweet dog,” Farley said. “She was obviously someone’s pet.”

The dog had multiple fractures to her hips and pelvic region. All Hayes could do was place the dog in a quarantine kennel at the shelter. The Farleys followed Hayes to the Animal Shelter.

That was when they found out the county doesn’t make provisions for medical care for animals brought to the shelter.

No funding for first aid

Columbus County Animal Control had a budget of just over $201,000 for fiscal year 2004-2005. It had revenues of $17,851 from fines and fees.

The budget does not specifically define how much of the money came from adoption fees, fines for violations like improper restraint of dangerous animals, and the sale of cat cadavers to medical supply companies.

The county charges $10 for cats and $13 for dogs, which includes rabies vaccinations.

Most of the adoption fee dollars go to the contract veterinarian for rabies shots. The cadavers bring $6 each, and fines can range from $25 to $100 per violation. A breakdown of how much of those funds is returned to the Animal Shelter was not available.

“I understand the funding problems,” Farley said, “but it’s still kind of a shock.”

The dog apparently fell out of the back of a vehicle on the highway and was either struck or rolled, Farley said.

Farley said an unknown man who helped Hayes load the Rottweiler in the Animal Control truck called later to check on the animal. He did not claim the animal Martin said, but seemed genuinely concerned.

The county doesn’t even have funds for minimal medical care for sick or injured animals, but such pets are seen every day at the shelter.

Hayes said it’s common for people to drop sick or injured animals at the shelter, then call back later wanting to take the animal back.

Treating an unwanted pet then placing the animal up for adoption – or recovery, as the case may be – doesn’t happen. Hayes does what he can for the animals, but most times they are killed at the end of a week, unless they are suffering to the point euthanasia is the only option.

“People are surprised to find out we can’t afford to treat them,” he said. “We’re not an animal hospital. If they’re too sick or hurt, the best we can do is euthanize them.”

Lambert and the Farleys made arrangements with Southern Veterinary Clinic to have the dog checked out. The Farleys carried the dog to the clinic, where she was examined by Dr. Nicole Martin.

Martin said the dog went into shock on the examining table; even though she only had a few lacerations, an X-ray showed far more serious damage.

“The surgeries would have cost thousands of dollars,” Martin said, “and even then there would be quality of life issues.”

Martin and Hayes said they did everything possible to find the owner of the dog. The dog had no identifying tag or collar when Hayes picked her up. Martin scanned the dog for microchips, to no avail.

The situation is all too common, Martin said.

“When people bring an injured animal by,” Martin said, “we always ask them to take care of the bill, if the owner can’t be found. We can’t afford to give free treatment to every animal that gets brought in.’

Since the Humane Society referred the Rottweiler, Martin said, she was prepared to offer some treatment.

The dog’s injuries were so severe, and the prognosis so dim, that Martin and the Fairleys decided to euthanise the dog. Otherwise, Farley said, a lack of funding would have forced the Rottweiler to lay untreated, possibly for several days, at the Animal Shelter.

“All I could offer would be some short-term pain relief,” Martin said.

Not a hospital

Hayes said people who bring animals to the shelter are often under the misconception that the shelter can provide medical care.

Farley said that Hayes is “great to work with,” but the lack of funding for at least some medical care at Animal Control leaves animals “half rescued.”

Farley, Lambert, and Martin praised Hayes for his extra efforts in adopting animals out.

“There ought to be some money somewhere for at least minimal care,” she said. “I know things are tight, but there should be some way to provide some care other than a warm bed.”

“People don’t want to adopt an injured animal,” Lambert said.

Hayes said people are surprised to find out that most private donations to the shelter are directed into the county’s general fund. Some food is donated directly to the shelter, and Hayes said volunteer donors often help pay for special items like water dishes.

Currently, Hayes said, he is working to manufacture sleeping benches for each cage in the shelter. The benches will allow dogs and their bedding to be off the floor.

Hayes said that he would welcome donations for the benches – while they are available ready-made, he said he can make them himself – but recommends people contact him first about donating.

“If people want to help financially,” he said, “it’s better people purchase supplies for us directly, rather than donating the money.”

Raising fees would defeat the purpose, Hayes said. By advertising the animals on Petfinder.com, and keeping the fees low, more pets make it to good homes – and fewer have to be killed.

“Right now, we have people coming from all over to adopt our animals,” he said. “They come from as far away as the Virginia line, and we have some animals going farther than that.”

“The county commissioners need to realize that when people outside of our county see things like this in the news, it looks bad,” Farley said. “You can tell a lot about people by the way they treat animals. We don’t look so good right now.”