Animal shelters facing more problems – Local centers at maximum capacity
Once again, Warren County finds itself with too many unwanted animals and not enough space as both the Warren County Animal Control Center and Viola Valley Dogs are full.
‘We have too many now and we just can’t take anymore,’ said Linda Coursey of Viola Valley Dogs, a no-kill rescue shelter. ‘People call every day with animals. We wish we could take them all but the community support just isn’t there.’
Until the shelter gets its numbers down to a manageable amount, it won’t be taking any more pets. According to Coursey, that could take a long time.
‘It would take a while to find places for all the dogs we have,’ said Coursey. ‘Right now my husband and I work 10 hours a day to care for the dogs and we had to hire someone to come in five days a week. There’s no funding from the county and people don’t offer donations. They just want to get rid of the animal. Out of sight, out of mind.’
Viola Valley Dogs pays roughly $100 a day to feed and care for the dogs at its facility, and that doesn’t include veterinary care. The facility has only two regular contributors.
‘This problem needs to stop being placed at the bottom of everyone’s list,’ said Coursey. ‘It’s just terrible. There’s no excuse for not doing something. The county commissioners should be ashamed of themselves for not doing more. Homeless shouldn’t mean death.’
For Warren County Animal Control, which isn’t a no-kill shelter, the news is just as bleak. With the limited space, those wanting to drop off animals must call before they come to make sure there is room.
‘We only have enough room for 14 animals at a time and each one has to be held for a minimum of three days,’ said Warren County Animal Control director Charles Smith. ‘We get maybe 20 calls a day and we just don’t have room for them all.’
On Friday, they received 17 calls regarding unwanted animals but only one call interested in adoption. Although animal control does euthanize, adoption is better than death.
According to Smith, if a dog comes in that is healthy and looks as if it has a chance of adoption, they hold it slightly longer than the three days. When that time has passed, he begins calling rescue groups to see if they have room.
To slow the ever-increasing numbers, both Coursey and Smith would like to see a spay and neuter program. For Smith, the answer also lies in education.
He would like to begin an education program he can present to school-age children. The program would include not only animal safety but the proper care for animals when it comes to food, water, grooming and yes, the importance of controlling the over-population by spaying and neutering.
Those interested in adopting an animal or making a donation should contact Viola Valley Dogs at 635-2765, or Warren County Animal Control at 507-3647.