This is the third article in a series on educational programs and volunteer efforts at area animal shelters to promote responsible pet ownership and manage the ongoing problem of pet overpopulation.
Working together for animal welfare
Part Three
by Deborah Parkhill Mullis
That sad fact hasn’t changed much over the 10 years that Sue King, Gaston County Shelter Supervisor, has worked with animals. The solution is to educate people about responsible pet ownership thereby limiting the number of pets impounded in the first place, she said.
“So many surrender cards say 'moving' it can’t possibly be true in every case,” said King. More likely the pet has a training issue and the person has an attitude problem. “We have people who turn in animals as if they are broken and disposable and then want to look at the adoptables. They didn’t take care of the one they had!” she exclaimed.
How do area shelters encourage citizens to re-examine their behavior and consider animal welfare? A spirit of cooperation between animal advocates and animal shelters seems to be the key to creating an ongoing educational campaign that successfully reaches and teaches the public what it means to be a responsible pet owner.
According to Joe Bloomquist, animal welfare outreach coordinator for the NC Dept. of Agriculture, public animal shelters across the state are doing a good job with limited resources by building volunteer networks to help foster animals so that so many don’t have to be euthanized. “This state is trying to lead the way in getting shelter animals adopted, getting people to spay and neuter their pets and use identification tags. The main thing is education,” he said.
Hand in Hand
Talking to citizens about responsible pet ownership is a mission Gaston County Animal Control shares with rescue groups. “We work hand in hand with all the animal leagues. It's good for their animals and promotes adoption of our animals,” said animal control officer, Sgt. Larry Lingafelt of the Gaston County Police Department. According to Lingafelt, one Saturday each month rescue groups organize an adoption day at the shelter. And when rescue groups hold off-site adoptions at parks or malls, animal control officers are available to educate citizens.
The department has an impressive Web site ( www.co.gaston.nc.us/AnimalControl/index.HTM ) featuring a streaming video called "Gaston County Close-up," which communicates a serious message about animal control’s role in Gaston County and shows photos from an adoption event at Westfield Eastridge Mall in February. Volunteers from the Animal League of Gaston County helped shelter cats and dogs find new homes that day. Lost animals have a page on the site as do animals up for adoption. Information about a new spaying and neutering assistance program can also be found there.
Side by Side
In Cabarrus County, the Sheriff’s Office enforces animal control and the local humane society handles adoptions. “They work side by side with us at the shelter,” said animal control supervisor, Lt. David Taylor. "Under a lease agreement they work within the shelter and get the monetary value (for adopted animals),” he explained.
A prominent “Adopt a Pet” link on the web page for the Sheriff’s Office of Cabarrus County Animal Control takes readers to the Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County‘s web page, which is filled with up-to-date information including a calendar of events and a current newsletter. Many articles speak to the issue of responsible pet ownership.
The two-year anniversary of the New Leash on Life Program was recently celebrated, according to a local humane society newsletter. “Inmates train dogs over a six week period and then they are adopted out to the public. We have a waiting list for those dogs,” said Lt. Taylor.
Five Years Running
Adoption fairs and free spaying and neutering clinics held every month by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Animal Control’s base of volunteers has had a positive impact on animal welfare in Mecklenburg County. Volunteer coordinator, Linda Hagemann, oversees 185 volunteers in a variety of programs for CMPD Animal Control. The Call Back Program gives new pet owners a free training DVD and contacts them within a week to see how their rescue pet is doing. Volunteers offer help if any training issues are raised.
In addition, CMPD Animal Control, The Humane Society of Charlotte, Smash Communications and The Foundation for the Carolinas launched an ambitious media campaign known as “Spay-Neuter-Adopt” to educate the public about responsible pet ownership with strategically placed billboards, extensive Web sites, and pre-feature cinema slide shows on as many as 38 screens within four major movie theaters.
CMPD Animal Control also publishes a newsletter, Four Paws & a Tale, which is made available at adoption fairs and is filled with information and stories that encourage responsible pet ownership. Financially fragile neighborhoods receive flyers and phone calls to advertise free rabies and spay/neuter clinics. Animal control officers go into schools to educate children.
Getting it Together
Union County Sheriff Eddie Cathey said Animal Services is in the process of hiring a volunteer coordinator to oversee education, off-site adoptions and rabies clinics. He hopes the new position will lead Union County residents to become as involved in animal welfare as Mecklenburg County residents.
“We don’t have a real good website, we realize that," he said. The old building did not have the computer accessibility that we have in the new building. The IT Department is working on that daily.”
According to Lt. Michelle Starnes, director of Union County Animal Services, current shelter volunteers have been instrumental in obtaining free brochures about responsible pet ownership from the American Kennel Club and other resources to hand out at the adoption center and during events such as rabies clinics.
Starnes and certified professional dog trainer Maggie Blutreich, make educational presentations at schools and for groups. For example, as a community service project, Girl Scout Troop 939 is collecting funds, distributing flyers and posting signs to promote rabies clinics the shelter will sponsor this spring.
Animal Services staff and shelter volunteers will continue holding new volunteer orientations as needed. To find out more about volunteering at the Union County animal shelter contact: Kristin Blank: weebiscuit1946@yahoo.com or 704-843-5152.
This article was published in Union County Weekly, Volume 2, Number12 * March 23-29, 2007.
