Citizens can help alleviate problem of stays
Post-Tribune (IN)
August 22, 1987
In reference to strays injured in Gary:
The Gary Pound truck being out of commission is no excuse for an injured animal not being picked up immediately. Hobart Humane Society's van is frequently down. When we get an "injured" call, we go immediately. No van, we use our personal cars. Lake County Animal Control has done the same.
Hopefully the Post-Tribune articles and photos will enrage more people than the same few who over and over try to fight the animal injustices in Gary.
The pound doesn't have the same priorities as the Hobart Humane Society, which also does animal control for Hobart. Our priority policy is: No. 1 is always an injured animal, 2) a dog in a school yard, 3) bite case, 4) confined stray (before it's set loose), 5) stray, 6) DOA, 7) complaints.
Until the Gary Pound changes its policy and upgrades its service, there are things the citizens can do to help many of the injured strays.
Be a responsible pet owner. The strays come from someone's home. If you no longer want your cat or dog, turn it in to your local shelter or animal control. Someone may want the animal.
Don't wait a week or even one day to report your lost pet. The Hobart Humane Society keeps a lost and found file, containing descriptions of hundreds of cats and dogs. Depending on the facility, animals are kept 3-5 days before being put up for adoption or euthanized. Call all shelters and animal controls in Lake and Porter counties. Some animals travel very far and fast. Put posters in supermarkets, the post office, laundromats, veterinarians's offices, anywhere people permit.
Offer a small reward to children in the area for information about pets. Kids are outside a lot and see much we don't see. Run ads in your local paper and the major paper in your area.
Visit the shelters and animal control centers every few days. Our descriptions may vary from yours.
Don't give up. Dogs and cats have been gone weeks, even months, and then been turned in to us. A woman lost her dog four months ago - never reported it lost to us - came in to adopt a pup and found her dog in our kennel. The dog had been with us five weeks.
Do all you can to prevent your pet from becoming a "lost" statistic. Collar it with city and/or rabies tags. The animal can then be united with its owner immediately. Hobart alone took in 6,001 animals in 1986; 966 were strays. Only 168 were redeemed. Who lost the other 800?
Spay or neuter your cat or dog. A female in heat will stray looking for a male. Males will break chains, windows and gates to get at a female in heat. Packs result. Injured animals. Injured children. Lastly, unwanted litters.
Carol Konopacki, supervisor
Humane Society of Hobart Inc.
