Franklin County Humane Society T-Shirt Fundraiser

Humane Society cared for 2,049 animals in 2014

Monday, February 9, 2015: The Franklin County Humane Society provided care for 2,049 dogs and cats in 2014, according to President Donna Essig. Those animals include household pets, strays and animals transferred from area animal shelters. "We take in many animals that are not easy to place, including ill or injured animals and hard to place breeds," said Essig. "We take in animals sick with parvovirus and heartworm disease, senior animals discarded by their owners, animals with broken spirits and broken bones. This is part of our mission to find a loving home for animals in need." While the numbers of animals that the Humane Society takes in each year has increased steadily, the numbers of animals taken in by the county shelter has dropped to 814 animals in 2014, Essig said. Out of the 814 animals taken in at the county shelter, 270 were transferred to the Humane Society. The Humane Society's adoption and spay-neuter programs and the cooperation between the Humane Society Director Anita Scott and shelter Manager Cindy Brooks have reduced the euthanasia rate at the shelter, Essig added. Staff at both shelters are working on ways to help more cats and kittens. The Humane Society has an adoption space at the Roanoke PetSmart store, which has helped to place many more cats and kittens in adoptive homes. The Humane Society's Planned Pethood Clinic has provided over 48,203 spay-neuter surgeries as part of its goal to reduce the number of animals taken to shelters and pounds or abandoned at dumpsters each year, Essig said. Planned Pethood has special prices to spay or neuter any outside cat. The clinic supports trap/neuter/release programs, as sterilizing outside cats is essential to reduce the number of cats and kittens taken to shelters each year. Plans to build a new county animal shelter will help save more lives, as the new shelter will provide space often needed to house animals, according to Scott. "A new county shelter has been long needed, and we look forward to the new shelter opening," said Scott. "We often need additional time to find placement for an animal. I also want to remind people that taking your pet to a shelter puts your pet or another animal at the shelter at risk and should be a last resort. Please ask for help in keeping your pet first." The Humane Society will continue to work towards reducing the numbers of homeless pets. "We ask that all residents help by spaying or neutering their pets by 4 months of age, by not letting their pets roam freely and by contacting us for help with animals that need spay-neuter surgeries or homes," said Essig. "Please don't wait until your pet or the stray that has taken up at your house has puppies or is hit by a car to ask for help."
http://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/article.cfm?ID=29161