Humans to blame for pet deaths, say Shelter officials
Thousands euthanized each year
Post-Tribune (IN)
February 5, 1987
Charlie, a friendly black and white tomcat with a penchant for "people" food like roast beef and chicken, purrs with pleasure when his soft, silky coat is stroked by visitors to his cage at the Hobart Humane Society.
Adopted as a Christmas gift, the long-haired cat was brought back to the humane society on New Year's Eve.
His only crime: "Those who adopted him told us he was 'too affectionate'," said Carol Konopacki, Hobart Humane Society supervisor.
Fortunately for Charlie, the odds of the healthy feline finding a permanent home are stacked in his favor.
"They (the animals) stay here until they are adopted if they remain healthy," added Konopacki.
But that's not the case for many homeless animals. Although the adoption policies and procedures at humane societies and shelters differ throughout Northwest Indiana, the fact remains: Thousands of the animals, including those who are old, sick or just not wanted by their owners for a variety of reasons, will be "put to sleep" this year. In more blunt terms, they will be killed - either through a lethal injection or by placing them in a special decompression chamber that removes oxygen from the air.
And most shelter officials agree that the number of stray or unwanted animals being brought in is on the rise, possibly because of the high number of jobless people throughout Northwest Indiana.
Kay Kuntz, head of the Gary-based Lakeshore Humane Society, said emotions run high there most days, especially when a beloved pet that the family can't afford to care for anymore is brought in.
"People, men and women both, will cry when they bring the animals to the door, but they explain that they had to choose between their kids or their animals going hungry. Then the kids start crying because they have to give little Suzy (the pet) up," said Kuntz, adding, "We cry and pray a lot around here."
Kuntz said that the poor state of the economy not only means more animals brought in, it also means fewer adoptions.
Although the cost to adopt is low there - about $10 for cats and dogs - there often just isn't enough money in the family budget these days to feed and care for a pet, said Kuntz.
The Lakeshore Humane Society, which accepts strays from all over Northwest Indiana, has a reputation as a place that will make a good attempt, up to several months, to adopt healthy animals instead of putting them to sleep, said Kuntz.
"We have no set cutoff time as long as they are healthy and we have the room," she said. "You'd have to have a building the size of the Empire State Building to keep them all, but we do give them a fair shake." She noted the humane society has a capacity for about 50 animals, depending on their size.
Kuntz added, "But it still costs money to feed, care for and house the animals, and we can't keep them forever. Financially we receive nothing from the city (of Gary) even though the biggest portion come from there."
Instead, the humane society relies on donations and fund-raisers such as the Shaggy Dog Ball, an annual event usually held in Merrillville, to keep it financially afloat, said Kuntz.
Donna Smith, director of Porter County Animal Control, handles an average of 300-500 animals per month.
And the numbers are on the rise, Smith said. In 1985 her shelter handled 3,596, while in 1986 that figure was 3,755.
Smith calls her shelter's adoption rates "very good." In November, for instance 79 were adopted versus 128 killed. The average stay of most cats and dogs is about five to seven days before they would be "put down or put to sleep," she said.
"I kill animals, yes, unfortunately," said Smith, adding, "I would rather be doing it to their owners. It's not their (the animals') fault."
Irresponsible people who let their pets run loose and who don't have them neutered, thereby producing even more unwanted animals, are the ones to blame for the increase in strays, said Smith.
"This shelter is a product of people's irresponsible behavior. They (the people) have created the demand. If we got to the point where the shelter wasn't needed and we could level it, I'd be thrilled," Smith added.
Neutering of animals is encouraged at the Porter County shelter by rebating a portion of the adoption fee to those who later show certification from a vet.
At the Lake County Animal Control site at Crown Point, neutering is required. "We have a form and they (those adopting) must take it to their vet to verify the procedure has been done and then they must bring the form back to us," said Debra Rafacz, Lake County animal control director. If more people would take responsibility for their pets, she said, it would cut down on "hundreds of thousands of unwanted animals."
She added that too many people believe that pets should be allowed to run around at will and to reproduce in the same manner. "They see it (reproduction) as an act of life. But these are domestic animals and they need supervising."
In addition, animals that are altered are generally healthier and not as aggressive. "They (altered animals) make much better pets and companions," said Rafacz.
Although there is no set cutoff when animals are killed at Lake County Animal Control, Rafacz said those strays that are "healthy and neutered would be the last to go."
The age of the animal, its temperament and health are all taken into consideration before an animal is killed by injection.
Although Rafacz was not able to provide figures on the numbers brought into the shelter in 1986, this past year did seem somewhat busier, she said.
"But I really haven't noticed a big surge," she added.
Konopacki of the Hobart Humane Society perhaps best put into words the attitude at Northwest Indiana animal shelters.
Konopacki, who brought in her own 15-year-old dog to have it put to sleep in the Euthanaire, the brand name of the decompression chamber used there, said animals "are handled lovingly and will not suffer."
She said those who are against euthanasia methods used by humane societies and shelters should "come down and work there for awhile."
"They (those who complain) shouldn't be against us. They should complain instead about those who let their animals run loose, mate and get hit."
Animals adopted, euthanized in '86
SHELTER ADOPTED EUTHANIZED
Porter County *1,013 **2,152
Animal Control
Lake County **284 ***2,942
Animal Control
Hobart 1,369 3,039
Humane Society
*Includes 30 assorted animals other than cats and dogs.
**Includes 347 owner requests.
***1985 figures.
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