Animal shelter at capacity
By Kevin Dye
Staff Writer
The Humane Society of Madison County needs the public’s help with a disturbing trend before the shelter is forced into a corner and has to act against their own principles.
The shelter has been stretched to its limit with cats and there is currently no room to take in additional felines. Recently, two kittens were dumped in a carrier at the shelter on Thursday, July 26; a mother cat and her four kittens were dumped in a carrier on Friday, July 27; and the week before, a three-legged cat was dumped in a carrier. Additional animals make a bad situation worse and HSMC Director Betty Peyton said it is time for the public to realize that the outcome is grim for dropped off animals.
“Folks don’t get it,” said Peyton. “All our cat cages are full. We just can’t take in anymore. Yes, we have a new shelter, but there is no magic room with an endless number of cages for cats. Full means full. Period.”
Peyton said that two kittens even had a note and a donation of $30 with them. The note explained that the cats were good and needed a home and love. It is frustrating for Peyton and her staff who have to make decisions on the cats’ fate due to someone passing on the responsibility to them.
“The good lady with those cats and others need to understand that whether they were to give us $30 or $1,000, it does not help in opening up more cages for cats, “Peyton said. “When we moved into the new shelter, we had put in all the cages we could. So, if we cannot find a place or foster for them, the cats will have to be put down, euthanized. Yes, that is a touchy subject and one that a lot of folks don’t agree with, but it is what it is and I for one, don’t agree with having to put them down.”
Many shelters have different views on what to do with felines. The HSMC would rather be honest with the public that if they take in the cats and there is no room, they will put them down. If the folks could keep them for a bit, they will be put on a waiting list and called when a cage opens up.
“I believe that if folks are going to allow their cats to have kittens, then they are completely responsible for that whole litter. If you are going to take on the responsibility of feeding the strays, then you are the owner and you need to have the cats fixed, altered, spayed/neutered, whatever you want to call it. Why should the humane society have to be ‘bad’ and putting down felines because our cages are full when it’s really the fault of folks who won’t spay or neuter their animals. But put them down is what is going to happen whether anybody likes it or not.”
“We have no space for felines,” Peyton said. “We have a waiting list. You must be a Madison County resident to be put on that list. There are over five shelters and 12 rescue groups in Franklin County that will take cats. We are the only shelter based that takes in cats. If you need help in taking care of the stray you found, we can provide you litter and food until we can get it in. But if you try and force us to take it in, it will be put down. Not because we want to. Far from it, but no room means no room.”
To help in preventing more dumping of animals at the shelter, the HSMC has contracted with a company and surveillance cameras have been installed and will monitor and record 24 hours a day.
There was a problem with them after the big storm a few weeks ago, and they were not working correctly. However, they are now up and running. Anybody caught dumping any animal will be prosecuted to the full intent of the law.
The Ohio Revised Code section 959.01 is for abandoning animals and makes it a misdemeanor of the second degree on the first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense, punishable up to 90 days in jail, up to $750 in a fine and probation. Misdemeanor of the first degree is punishable by up to 180 days in jail, $1,000 fine and probation.
“We do not want to cause anyone to have to go to court, jail or have a huge fine, but abandonment or dumping of animals will no longer be tolerated,” said Peyton. “If the public is willing to work with us on the problem of stray cats, we will work with you.”
The HSMC is looking for volunteers who are willing to foster; litter and food is provided.
“We just need folks who will open up their home for a bit to help care for the cats until we get cats adopted and open cages,” Peyton said.
Currently, the HSMC is having their Adopt-a-thon until the end of July. All the adult cats are discounted to $30 from $45. I f you adopt two kittens, the total is $110 instead of $120. Anybody who would like to sponsor a feline in helping to discount their adoption fee can contact the HSMC. The Humane Society of Madison County is located at 2020 state Route 142 N.E. (Plain City-Georgesville Road), West Jefferson, OH 43162; (614) 879-8368.
There are at least 2 sides to the story and I think Concerned makes some very good points: there are different, more effective approaches to the problem of animal dumping than the method of berating and belittling people that is currently employed by the shelter director. I can’t imagine that her combative style attracts new volunteers or inspires people to donate to her cause.
There are 2 sides to this story- Yes the shelter is out of room, as are most shelters. The economy is in the crapper, people can’t afford to feed their kids let alone a pet, veterinary care is expensive… the list goes on and on. But, most shelters give an animal a certain “deadline’ if you will. If the pet isn’t showing any interest, unfortunately it will probably be euthanized. It’s the crappy reality of running an animal shelter. Having volunteered at a shelter for many years and held off veins of many animals that were sent to the rainbow bridge far earlier than they should have been, I still believe that it is kinder and more humane to euthanize an animal than to have it live out it’s life in a cage where it may or may not get the attention and love it deserves. Unfortuantely, the HSMC is trying to be run as a no-kill shelter and there are a lot of animals suffering in the process. The animals that have been there for months or even years are neglected of a life of being a couch potato and a foot warmer and instead stare through bars say after day with a few minutes of exercise to break up the monotony, The animals that have been turned away due to no room because odds are they are still being dumped somewhere to defend themselves, ending up dead in ditches and starving in the streets. CAHS does not turn animals away but they are very open about the fact that the animal may be euthanized. I think HSMC needs to look at there policies and do a little more thinking about the animals that have been there for an extended period of time. I have had the same problem as other good samaritans that try to help the neighborhood stray- you can’t take them all in and the local shelters don’t have room….the stray has a litter and now the problem has mulitplied. If that original stray had been taken in the first place, the cycle of life would have ended-either with the animal being spayed or euthanized. By forming a Humane Society, you have agreed to take on the challenge of cleaning up the messes of irresponsible pet owners- if you can’t do that, then maybe it’s time to rethink what you are doing.
As a shelter coordinator, I know exactly what it is like to have to tell people no, we are out of space. The cussing and yelling is crazy when you try to explain that we will call you to bring in the cat as soon as we get an empty cage. There is no miracle cure for our state’s cat problem. We can continue to have our TNR clinics and reducing a few more litters each year, we can continue to spay/ neuter each and every cat we adopt but can not be expected to have to euthanize a perfectly healthy adoptable animal because someone wants the stray out of their yard! That is unfair to the people that dedicate their lives to these unwanted animals everyday. Betty is an amazing person and an amazing Director and saves so many animals every year…..instead of talking about what you can do better…… get up there and help!!!!!! Become a foster parent, help network, walk a dog or bath a puppy.
As the director of the HSMC, I knew this story would cause folks to be upset. Anytime you mention having to put down animals always causes problems. But I believe the public needs to know the truth.
I have been to shelters where they thanks folks coming in the door with felines, adults, litters, mom with babies. They say things like “we will take care of them, don’t worry”. Once the person is gone, the cats are looked at. If they are black, black and white, tiger, they are put down. Sickly, old are put down. Anything over a year old, unless it is really pretty, is put down. I personally don’t believe lying to folks in saying “we will take care of them” when the cats are put down. Folks don’t like to hear that but it is the truth.
As to the comment of Stray Away, I VOLUNTEER AS THE DIRECTOR. I give over 40 hours a week to the HSMC. I worked hard to get the animals out of the crappy county shelter into a new nice shelter. I also network with other shelters and rescues some not even in this state.
As for the adoption process, it is in plans to make sure folks are able and can take care of the animals. The adoption fee for a cat is $60.00 which includes Feline Leuk/FIV testing, vaccines, dewormer, spay/neuter. The cost of the medical care of a cat is more than the adoption fee. This is where donations go to help with this cost and the litter, food and employees that are needed to care for the animals until they are adopted.
Would like to see you take a free cat, get it completely vetted for less than $60. You can’t. And folks giving away the “free to a good home”, well, those cats are not tested, no vaccines, not spayed/neutered. So you are not helping the pet overpopulation problem. And if a person can not afford the adoption fee of $60 for a cat, then they can not afford proper medical care of the animal to start with.
I also believe based on your comment there “Stray Away”, you have a problem with my being the director. If you would like to discuss my job and anything involving the shelter, call and make an appointment. I will see if I can fit you into my busy schedule. After all, making sure the animals at the shelter are being taken care of is my first priority, then comes finding them a home. My last priority is having to deal with folks like you.
I think it’s time that the counties and state require cat owners to start buying tags and have their pets vaccinated the same as dog owners are required and held responsible for letting them run loose. To you stray away send your facebook friends out in the country and they can pick up as many cats as they want that people have dumped out, I don’t mind people doing this around my place because it saves on my dog food bill. I feel if you can’t afford the adoption fee then you can’t afford the pet.
It sucks people can just detach from their pet like that. I’d feel terrible just dropping off my dog and leaving. He’s awesome! Spoiled rotten… But awesome! I hope everything works out for the shelter and really think its a good message from the director to get the point across that’s it’s NOT ok to abandon your pet at the Humane Society. They’re there to help, but they can only do so much.. it’s a community effort.
Then why don’t you get off your high horse and find homes for those 30 cats. As a destination for many strays, our family has worked hard finding a good home for a few cats a year. It is more difficult than you say. I’m guessing by your tone you have an issue with the current director. I don’t know her, but I think what she was trying to say (maybe not as effectively as she wanted) was that people need to take personal responsibility for their pets. Spay, neuter etc.
Just my thoughts.
So in other words, Betty Peyton is saying Don’t stop for a stray… floor it and just run it over to save us all time …..just because I find a stray doesn’t mean I want responsibility for it. I thought I would be doing the cat a favor, preventing it from getting hit by a car or something worse. It doesn’t mean I want it in my home or want responsibility for it. I just didn’t want to see it killed.
Lol.. What a joke. Seems like every other day I hear this woman complaining about something and tossing blame and fault around. Use the money you get in donations for outreach consultants who are dedicated to finding homes for the animals. Every ,day I see someone wanting a cat or kitten or dog in Madison County on Facebook. Why is there no one reaching out and making the adoption process cheaper and less troublesome for these people? I could probably find a GOOD home for 30 cats within an hour. USE the power of social media to your advantage. Work smarter, not harder.
I understand what capacity means, I absolutely get it… I’m just saying…Quit complaining and do your job – DIRECT, LEAD, and work towards fixing it.
….glad I got my best friend under the previous director at MCHS. Sounds like there’s a lot of poor leadership happening there these days… Regulatory issues are clear. Capacity shouldn’t be allowed. There should be a preventative measure in place to prevent that from happening.
Stray Away from MCHS, perhaps you should contact ‘HSMC’ and direct them to the people whom you say ‘I could probably find a good home for 30 cats within an hour’. Are your 30 cats going to be spayed/neutered, or are you just going to keep adding to the overwhelming unwanted animal population in this county? If we had responsible people willing to do something to actually help (like HSMC) instead of just spew derogatory, hateful words, the shelter wouldn’t be at capacity.