Humane Society is making strides

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Humane Society member Roxanne Redmon shows one of the many adorable puppies available for adoption at the local shelter. Roxanne encourages everyone to come by the shelter and pick out a bundle of unconditional love. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Great strides have been taking place at the Humane Society of Warren County thanks to the help of local residents, businesses and organizations.

The Humane Society knows the importance of spaying and neutering in controlling the dog and cat population. Humane Society member Villa Mitchell pointed out the result of pet owners not bothering to have their pets spayed or neutered in a recent e-mail to the Southern Standard.

“The week of April 27 to May 2, the shelter put down 80 animals that were never put in the runs and offered for adoption,” Mitchell said. “This means these 80 animals never had any chance to be adopted. People in Warren County need to understand that these are perfectly adoptable animals. They are not sick, mean or ones that no one would want. They are cute, friendly kittens/cats and puppies/dogs that the shelter has no room for.”

These statistics raise the question about how our local shelter can be reduce the number of animals it kills. One of the best ways is an effective spaying and neutering program.

The Humane Society recognizes the cost of this service can be prohibitive for lower income families. As a result, they have asked the Mobile Spay Station, run by the Humane Association of Wilson County, to bring its van here to offer low-cost spaying and neutering services to local pet owners.

The mobile clinic will be in Warren County on May 27-28. Anyone in the following programs is eligible to take advantage of this service: AFDC, Food Stamps, Families First, Public Housing, Section 8, SSI, SSD, VA, disability, Medicaid or WIC.

Anyone interested can call 939-3153 from May 19 through May 23 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

The Humane Society would like to thank Redmon Carpeting and General Shale Brick for their donations of materials and labor for the recent improvements at the shelter. The Humane Society also thanks Prater’s BBQ and The Collection Cafe, which are donating a portion of their sales tonight to the organization.