Abandoned Pets, Alternatives (Mena Forum)

The Humane Society of the Ouachitas is a no kill shelter BUT if an animal is sick and cannot be treated they do the HUMANE thing. No animal at the shelter is suffering from illness or in pain. They only suffer from being unwanted by previous owners. Low cost spay/neuter clinics are offered several times a year and at each clinic is filled to capacity.
Notnative, why don't you come to the shelter and volunteer a few hours and find out first hand about the shelter and the animals. The animals would love to have you visit, talk to them, take them for a walk, etc.

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 06:35 PM)

An animal shelter that will take all unwanted animals. Maybe even with a drop box so that animals are not abandoned all over Mena. I would like to see a place that would euthanize the ill, the halt, the lame, the animals in chronic pain. As it stands now, you can't take an animal to the humane society and drop it off. They are always full. They will keep every animal they get alive - even if they are unadoptable. Even if they are chronically ill or in pain. That hardly seems fair to either the animal that needs to be put down nor to the ones that are left to be abandoned. The latter animals might actually be adopted if there were a shelter to put them in. By the way, all of my animals are spayed or neutered. But since we live in an imperfect world where not everyone will or can get their animals fixed I suggest we deal with the problem in a humane manner that actually addresses the needs of the animals.

I agree with only a few of your statements. Being an animal lover myself.

However, dog shelters and humane societies are not a place for people to dump their unwanted animals. Dumping grounds for irresponsible, careless people.

Taking care of animals is the responsibility of their owner. You spay and neuter them so you don't end up with unwanted pets, you feed and water them, you make sure they are safe from harm and also that they are secured and not disturbing your neighbors.

Most of the people I talk to who are moving into this area are appalled by the number of homeless companion animals they see in Mena. I tell them they should live out in the County. :rolleyes:

I see this through the eyes of people who move here, and I guess i'm used to it, but they tell me it's rather abnormal.

We don't have a shelter where people can dump animals. Instead, they are dumped on our properties....left and right.

Something will have to be done. I doubt very much that the powers-that-be will continue to be able to pretend that there's not a problem. That's pretty much what people tell me they hear....that there's no animal problem in Polk County....even though we are overflowing with them.

The shelters aren't full because they are not euthanizing animals (although I am not against euthanization after a period of time). They are full because there are irresponsible lazy people who don't take care of their stuff.

What a shame that domesticated companion animals, who were bred to be our *companions*, have to end up like this. Catsndogs is right...they suffer from being unwanted.

Thank you, Lector, for your supporting comments but the dumping of animals is not unique to this area. I've been here several years but we had the same problem in Florida. All of my cats and dogs were street rescues.

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 07:35 PM)

An animal shelter that will take all unwanted animals. Maybe even with a drop box so that animals are not abandoned all over Mena. I would like to see a place that would euthanize the ill, the halt, the lame, the animals in chronic pain. As it stands now, you can't take an animal to the humane society and drop it off. They are always full. They will keep every animal they get alive - even if they are unadoptable. Even if they are chronically ill or in pain. That hardly seems fair to either the animal that needs to be put down nor to the ones that are left to be abandoned. The latter animals might actually be adopted if there were a shelter to put them in. By the way, all of my animals are spayed or neutered. But since we live in an imperfect world where not everyone will or can get their animals fixed I suggest we deal with the problem in a humane manner that actually addresses the needs of the animals.

If you only have two beds in your home but three kids to put to bed at night what are you going to do? Double up or have one of them euthanized?

[QUOTE=catsndogs,Aug 29 2007, 07:17 PM]The Humane Society of the Ouachitas is a no kill shelter BUT if an animal is sick and cannot be treated they do the HUMANE thing. No animal at the shelter is suffering from illness or in pain. They only suffer from being unwanted by previous owners. Low cost spay/neuter clinics are offered several times a year and at each clinic is filled to capacity.
Notnative, why don't you come to the shelter and volunteer a few hours and find out first hand about the shelter and the animals. The animals would love to have you visit, talk to them, take them for a walk, etc.

I don't have unwanted animals. I love my animals very much and if I had to get rid of them for some reason I would place them in an equally loving home. I am not saying I want a place to abandon animals. Nor do I want a place for others to abandon animals. What I am saying is that there are unwanted animals, there are abandoned animals, and there is no place to take them. Let me give you one example: My friend found a puppy under a bridge, next to a dead litter mate. The person who dumped them had opened a can of dog food for them. She almost didn't see the pup due to the location of the dumping. The pup was covered with ticks and fleas. I know because I helped get the ticks and fleas off. The areas where the bites had been needed to be treated. It was wormy. She wormed and rewormed it. Gave it two shots. Fed it. Somehow it lived. She tried to take it to the Humane Society. No doing. She finally found it a home. She was wondering what on earth she was going to do with it if no one stepped forward. At regular humane societies they always have room to take in animals. I believe that sometimes, unfortunately, they have to put animals down. I used to volunteer at a humane society and when they ran out of room the animals that had been unadopted the longest were put down. That was very sad but an unfortunate consequence of there being more pets available than people wanting to adopt. It sounds awful to put them down but it beats abandoning them. If you don't make room for new animals then the result is people dropping them off on the highway, at Walmart, etc. I did not realize the humane society was now killing sick animals. I am still correct in stating that the humane society is always too full to take in abandoned animals. Sometimes, animals are unwanted because, although they may have once had loving homes their "parents" may have died, gotten ill and become unable to care for them, have had to move, etc. It isn't all a failure to spay and neuter that is the cause of the problem. I am not suggesting we make it convenient for people to be irresponsible. I am saying that we need a place for animals to be given shelter while new homes are sought for them. When they are wandering, abandoned, they are at risk, the public is at risk of hitting them it is just a horrid situation. As for my thinking that the no kill policy extended to even the sick animals, well, at one point that was the policy. The Humane Society here has been run by a number of different people. At one point, they put no animals down. Then, it was taken over by someone who changed the policy and a local vet went out and they euthanized a number of animals for "humane" reasons. But for whatever reasons, you can't take an animal there. My friend has tried twice in the last year and another kind soul I know has also tried to take an animal there. These were animals that they found. Like I said, all my animals are spayed or neutered and so are my friends and the kind soul's. Yet, there are always animals to be found wandering, dumped in the streets. I see them dead on the roadside all the time. The signs are unmistakeable. They look lost, hungry. They wander with no purpose or joy. The point is, there needs to be someplace to take them. If the shelter here is too full then they need to euthanize some of the animals to make more room or expand in some way.

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 09:49 PM)

I don't have unwanted animals. I love my animals very much and if I had to get rid of them for some reason I would place them in an equally loving home. I am not saying I want a place to abandon animals. Nor do I want a place for others to abandon animals. What I am saying is that there are unwanted animals, there are abandoned animals, and there is no place to take them. Let me give you one example: My friend found a puppy under a bridge, next to a dead litter mate. The person who dumped them had opened a can of dog food for them. She almost didn't see the pup due to the location of the dumping. The pup was covered with ticks and fleas. I know because I helped get the ticks and fleas off. The areas where the bites had been needed to be treated. It was wormy. She wormed and rewormed it. Gave it two shots. Fed it. Somehow it lived. She tried to take it to the Humane Society. No doing. She finally found it a home. She was wondering what on earth she was going to do with it if no one stepped forward. At regular humane societies they always have room to take in animals. I believe that sometimes, unfortunately, they have to put animals down. I used to volunteer at a humane society and when they ran out of room the animals that had been unadopted the longest were put down. That was very sad but an unfortunate consequence of there being more pets available than people wanting to adopt. It sounds awful to put them down but it beats abandoning them. If you don't make room for new animals then the result is people dropping them off on the highway, at Walmart, etc. I did not realize the humane society was now killing sick animals. I am still correct in stating that the humane society is always too full to take in abandoned animals. Sometimes, animals are unwanted because, although they may have once had loving homes their "parents" may have died, gotten ill and become unable to care for them, have had to move, etc. It isn't all a failure to spay and neuter that is the cause of the problem. I am not suggesting we make it convenient for people to be irresponsible. I am saying that we need a place for animals to be given shelter while new homes are sought for them. When they are wandering, abandoned, they are at risk, the public is at risk of hitting them it is just a horrid situation. As for my thinking that the no kill policy extended to even the sick animals, well, at one point that was the policy. The Humane Society here has been run by a number of different people. At one point, they put no animals down. Then, it was taken over by someone who changed the policy and a local vet went out and they euthanized a number of animals for "humane" reasons. But for whatever reasons, you can't take an animal there. My friend has tried twice in the last year and another kind soul I know has also tried to take an animal there. These were animals that they found. Like I said, all my animals are spayed or neutered and so are my friends and the kind soul's. Yet, there are always animals to be found wandering, dumped in the streets. I see them dead on the roadside all the time. The signs are unmistakeable. They look lost, hungry. They wander with no purpose or joy. The point is, there needs to be someplace to take them. If the shelter here is too full then they need to euthanize some of the animals to make more room or expand in some way.

Notnative would you be willing to go to the Humane Society and tell them which dogs and cats to euthanize?

QUOTE (iffytiffy05 @ Aug 29 2007, 09:01 PM)

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 09:49 PM)

I don't have unwanted animals. I love my animals very much and if I had to get rid of them for some reason I would place them in an equally loving home. I am not saying I want a place to abandon animals. Nor do I want a place for others to abandon animals. What I am saying is that there are unwanted animals, there are abandoned animals, and there is no place to take them. Let me give you one example: My friend found a puppy under a bridge, next to a dead litter mate. The person who dumped them had opened a can of dog food for them. She almost didn't see the pup due to the location of the dumping. The pup was covered with ticks and fleas. I know because I helped get the ticks and fleas off. The areas where the bites had been needed to be treated. It was wormy. She wormed and rewormed it. Gave it two shots. Fed it. Somehow it lived. She tried to take it to the Humane Society. No doing. She finally found it a home. She was wondering what on earth she was going to do with it if no one stepped forward. At regular humane societies they always have room to take in animals. I believe that sometimes, unfortunately, they have to put animals down. I used to volunteer at a humane society and when they ran out of room the animals that had been unadopted the longest were put down. That was very sad but an unfortunate consequence of there being more pets available than people wanting to adopt. It sounds awful to put them down but it beats abandoning them. If you don't make room for new animals then the result is people dropping them off on the highway, at Walmart, etc. I did not realize the humane society was now killing sick animals. I am still correct in stating that the humane society is always too full to take in abandoned animals. Sometimes, animals are unwanted because, although they may have once had loving homes their "parents" may have died, gotten ill and become unable to care for them, have had to move, etc. It isn't all a failure to spay and neuter that is the cause of the problem. I am not suggesting we make it convenient for people to be irresponsible. I am saying that we need a place for animals to be given shelter while new homes are sought for them. When they are wandering, abandoned, they are at risk, the public is at risk of hitting them it is just a horrid situation. As for my thinking that the no kill policy extended to even the sick animals, well, at one point that was the policy. The Humane Society here has been run by a number of different people. At one point, they put no animals down. Then, it was taken over by someone who changed the policy and a local vet went out and they euthanized a number of animals for "humane" reasons. But for whatever reasons, you can't take an animal there. My friend has tried twice in the last year and another kind soul I know has also tried to take an animal there. These were animals that they found. Like I said, all my animals are spayed or neutered and so are my friends and the kind soul's. Yet, there are always animals to be found wandering, dumped in the streets. I see them dead on the roadside all the time. The signs are unmistakeable. They look lost, hungry. They wander with no purpose or joy. The point is, there needs to be someplace to take them. If the shelter here is too full then they need to euthanize some of the animals to make more room or expand in some way.

Notnative would you be willing to go to the Humane Society and tell them which dogs and cats to euthanize?

Are you saying that there is no room for new animals? After all, that is the point I am getting at. That is, do you need to euthanize some to make room for others? If so, then I would suggest putting those down that have been there the longest just as they do normally at a Humane Society. Or, if you feel so strongly on the issue expand the shelter to accomodate the newcomers. Are you saying it is better to simply be too full to accept new animals? Do the existing animals at the Humane Society live out their full lives there? What kind of a life is that??

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 10:08 PM)

QUOTE (iffytiffy05 @ Aug 29 2007, 09:01 PM)

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 09:49 PM)

I don't have unwanted animals. I love my animals very much and if I had to get rid of them for some reason I would place them in an equally loving home. I am not saying I want a place to abandon animals. Nor do I want a place for others to abandon animals. What I am saying is that there are unwanted animals, there are abandoned animals, and there is no place to take them. Let me give you one example: My friend found a puppy under a bridge, next to a dead litter mate. The person who dumped them had opened a can of dog food for them. She almost didn't see the pup due to the location of the dumping. The pup was covered with ticks and fleas. I know because I helped get the ticks and fleas off. The areas where the bites had been needed to be treated. It was wormy. She wormed and rewormed it. Gave it two shots. Fed it. Somehow it lived. She tried to take it to the Humane Society. No doing. She finally found it a home. She was wondering what on earth she was going to do with it if no one stepped forward. At regular humane societies they always have room to take in animals. I believe that sometimes, unfortunately, they have to put animals down. I used to volunteer at a humane society and when they ran out of room the animals that had been unadopted the longest were put down. That was very sad but an unfortunate consequence of there being more pets available than people wanting to adopt. It sounds awful to put them down but it beats abandoning them. If you don't make room for new animals then the result is people dropping them off on the highway, at Walmart, etc. I did not realize the humane society was now killing sick animals. I am still correct in stating that the humane society is always too full to take in abandoned animals. Sometimes, animals are unwanted because, although they may have once had loving homes their "parents" may have died, gotten ill and become unable to care for them, have had to move, etc. It isn't all a failure to spay and neuter that is the cause of the problem. I am not suggesting we make it convenient for people to be irresponsible. I am saying that we need a place for animals to be given shelter while new homes are sought for them. When they are wandering, abandoned, they are at risk, the public is at risk of hitting them it is just a horrid situation. As for my thinking that the no kill policy extended to even the sick animals, well, at one point that was the policy. The Humane Society here has been run by a number of different people. At one point, they put no animals down. Then, it was taken over by someone who changed the policy and a local vet went out and they euthanized a number of animals for "humane" reasons. But for whatever reasons, you can't take an animal there. My friend has tried twice in the last year and another kind soul I know has also tried to take an animal there. These were animals that they found. Like I said, all my animals are spayed or neutered and so are my friends and the kind soul's. Yet, there are always animals to be found wandering, dumped in the streets. I see them dead on the roadside all the time. The signs are unmistakeable. They look lost, hungry. They wander with no purpose or joy. The point is, there needs to be someplace to take them. If the shelter here is too full then they need to euthanize some of the animals to make more room or expand in some way.

Notnative would you be willing to go to the Humane Society and tell them which dogs and cats to euthanize?

Are you saying that there is no room for new animals? After all, that is the point I am getting at. That is, do you need to euthanize some to make room for others? If so, then I would suggest putting those down that have been there the longest just as they do normally at a Humane Society. Or, if you feel so strongly on the issue expand the shelter to accomodate the newcomers. Are you saying it is better to simply be too full to accept new animals? Do the existing animals at the Humane Society live out their full lives there? What kind of a life is that??

My question to you was "would you be willing to go to the Humane Society and look each dog and cat in the eye and say its time for you to die because you've been here to long"?

"As for my thinking that the no kill policy extended to even the sick animals, well, at one point that was the policy. The Humane Society here has been run by a number of different people. At one point, they put no animals down. Then, it was taken over by someone who changed the policy and a local vet went out and they euthanized a number of animals for "humane" reasons"

[color=blue]When did this local vet go to the shelter and euthanize these animals? It hasn't happened in the past year. Who is your source for this information?

As for expanding the shelter that would be great but where is the money going to come from? The Humane Society is a non profit shelter operating on donations and fundraisers. It receives NO government money, nothing from the city, county, state or federal government.

QUOTE (iffytiffy05 @ Aug 29 2007, 08:38 PM)

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 07:35 PM)

An animal shelter that will take all unwanted animals. Maybe even with a drop box so that animals are not abandoned all over Mena. I would like to see a place that would euthanize the ill, the halt, the lame, the animals in chronic pain. As it stands now, you can't take an animal to the humane society and drop it off. They are always full. They will keep every animal they get alive - even if they are unadoptable. Even if they are chronically ill or in pain. That hardly seems fair to either the animal that needs to be put down nor to the ones that are left to be abandoned. The latter animals might actually be adopted if there were a shelter to put them in. By the way, all of my animals are spayed or neutered. But since we live in an imperfect world where not everyone will or can get their animals fixed I suggest we deal with the problem in a humane manner that actually addresses the needs of the animals.

If you only have two beds in your home but three kids to put to bed at night what are you going to do? Double up or have one of them euthanized?

They apparently aren't doubling up because they are turning animals away. That is a problem. Not taking the animals in means that people are abandoning them or putting a bullet in their heads. When there is no place to take an animal what do you think happens to them. Do you think people take them back home to love them? What do you think happens when they turn them away?

QUOTE (catsndogs @ Aug 29 2007, 09:46 PM)

"As for my thinking that the no kill policy extended to even the sick animals, well, at one point that was the policy. The Humane Society here has been run by a number of different people. At one point, they put no animals down. Then, it was taken over by someone who changed the policy and a local vet went out and they euthanized a number of animals for "humane" reasons"

[color=blue]When did this local vet go to the shelter and euthanize these animals? It hasn't happened in the past year. Who is your source for this information?

As for expanding the shelter that would be great but where is the money going to come from? The Humane Society is a non profit shelter operating on donations and fundraisers. It receives NO government money, nothing from the city, county, state or federal government.

It was a few years ago. I believe it was Randy Burgess that had to go but I am not sure. It was pretty common knowledge at the time.

When we first moved here, there was the same situation. No room for new animals. Most of the people I met talked about that and the no kill policy. When it was taken over by someone more reasonable they had to put dogs to sleep for humane reasons. I am honestly not sure of the vet but if you want to know post a thread asking. Most of the people at the time thought it was a relief to see the dogs put down that needed it. Anyway, I know the Humane Society here is not the national Humane Society. That explained the no kill policy. I was surprised that dogs hadn't been being put down all along. That was when it was explained to me that the human society here was just a group who had adopted that name that they weren't the national recognized version. I wonder why we don't get that sort of funding. Maybe no one has tried.

QUOTE (iffytiffy05 @ Aug 29 2007, 08:38 PM)

. [/QUOTE]
If you only have two beds in your home but three kids to put to bed at night what are you going to do? Double up or have one of them euthanized?

Get a grip here...that's kinda overboard... :crazy:

We are talking about taking care of animals that need the care because useless, uncaring people dump them anywhere...near highways where they will get killed unless someone picks them up or in some unsuspecting person's yard.

We adopted a kitten years ago that had been thrown out on the side of the road at 4 weeks...she was picked up by the humane society and nursed by a mother cat and then put up for adoption when she was 6 weeks old, after being spayed. She is the most loving, sweet cat that I have ever had.

About a week ago someone dumped a kitty on our property...she has been a house cat because she tries every time the door is open to get in and she loves everyone...there was no reason to dump her other than the fact that whoever did it is an idiot. We can't keep her because we have our cat and a dog...and our cat hates other cats. Hopefully we will find a home for her soon or we will be taking her to the humane society.

If anyone is interested, please pm me. BTW I call the kitten a her but I don't know if it is a he or a she...mine is a female so I just call it a she.

Notnative,
If memory serves me right, there were about 70 dogs taken from a hoarder in Cove. Some of those dogs were really sick and may have had to be put down but I can't say for sure because I was not at the shelter at that time. I think it was about 6 or 7 years ago.

We are dues paying members of the Humane Society of the United States and although I can't comment on what happened years ago I can tell you that we are doing the best that we can with what we have to work with. As for doubling up--we do that all the time.

Please feel free to come to the shelter anytime Tues through Saturday between 10 AM and 2 PM and visit us. You don't have to identify yourself, become a member or volunteer. Just look around and see what we are trying to do.

By the way, we have adopted most of our older dogs. They make great pets and are truly grateful for a "forever home".

QUOTE (notnative @ Aug 29 2007, 10:28 PM)

I know the Humane Society here is not the national Humane Society.

That was when it was explained to me that the human society here was just a group who had adopted that name that they weren't the national recognized version. I wonder why we don't get that sort of funding. Maybe no one has tried.

If you visit HSUS online, they specifically note that they do not fund shelters. Therefore, there are no *HSUS* shelters, technically.

Many communities just have gotten into the habit of calling their shelter something iwth the name "humane" in it....therefore, everyone believes they are HSUS. That is not true. Some shelters, like the one here, say they pay dues to HSUS, so I imagine that gives them some kind of "affiliation" in terms of having HSUS for an "advocate".

As an advocate, here is what HSUS does, from their website:

"The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection, animals in research, and farm animals. The HSUS protects all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work."

Read what they do here:
HSUS

There is no mention of shelter funding.

BTW, to get into a side issue, as a result of this, there are many that are against HSUS (and PETA), because they feel, rightly or wrongly, that the organizations take in a lot of money and uses it for ad campaigns and legislation for "animal rights".

(And----You do *not* want to be called an AR (animal rights) person in Arkansas. :D ) We traditionally have tons of duck and deer hunters, and people who raise livestock, so it can be a slippery slope.

I consider myself a person concerned about the welfare of animals, as I think most kind-hearted people do. Myself ---I like the ASPCA. That is the only organization which I donate to, other my local shelter wherever I am living that is struggling by on donations. It's a good cause, of course.

So--- I refuse to get into the politics of it all. It seems rather nasty, from what I've seen and heard.

Back to topic, I personally see no reason to disucss the past, since it is gone and done with, with regard to the shelter in Mena.

From what I hear, the present shelter is well-run, and has dedicated staff. I'm sure they could use more funding, but for that, they have to rely on the local community, or write their own grants, from how I understand things? Because again, HSUS does not do shelter funding.

Thank you, Lector. The dues we pay is a very small amount and you are right, we get nothing in the way of compensation from them.
They advertise on the Animal Planet all the time but never tell you that any money goes back to the local shelters because it doesn't.

And thank you for your kind comments on our shelter.

QUOTE (lector @ Aug 29 2007, 08:39 PM)

homeless companion animals

Is this the politically correct way to say "unwanted pets?" :scratch:

QUOTE (Scotto @ Aug 31 2007, 09:23 PM)

QUOTE (lector @ Aug 29 2007, 08:39 PM)

homeless companion animals

Is this the politically correct way to say "unwanted pets?" :scratch:

Sounds like it to me. :coverlaugh:

QUOTE (catsndogs @ Aug 31 2007, 08:15 PM)

Thank you, Lector. The dues we pay is a very small amount and you are right, we get nothing in the way of compensation from them.
They advertise on the Animal Planet all the time but never tell you that any money goes back to the local shelters because it doesn't.

And thank you for your kind comments on our shelter.

I know a lot about the different animal organizations, as one of my best friends was *higher up* in a major International animal organization for 13 years.

She made news in the New York Times, and many other publications both on the internet and off (see below) She can tell you amazing stories, has been all over the world.

She was sent to live amongst the seal hunters in the remote Magdalene Islands by the IFW (a somewhat *radical* organization). But once she started living with them, she realized that seal hunting was something they had done for many generations, was their only means of making a living, so she tried to negotiate a contract that would be acceptable to both IFW and the hunters. She was fired by the IFW for this. :downer:

Here's some articles about her...it was all over the internet and the newspapers:

Here

and Here

Let me know what ya'll think. :D

I'll have to bring her by next time she visits. (She lives on a small farm now, not too far from AR).

Catndogs: Since you're not officially HSUS, you might wanna see what membership in ASPCA gives you? They are the people who do the shows on Animal Planet "Animal Cops", and do a tremendous amount of hands-on animal rescues, including farm animals. :thumb:

I'm a big animal welfare supporter, but some of the organizations are a little too *militant* for my tastes. The ultimate solution to animal welfare has to have both people and animals in mind...instead of an agenda that makes people fight and hate each other and commit acts of violence. :downer: I do not tolerate animal cruelty of any kind, but I also understand that people hunt for food and also eat meat.

I'm against any kind of radical, extremist, fundamentalism, violence, whether it be religion, politics, animal welfare, etc. We all have to learn to live together on this planet.

Lector,
Sorry I didn't respond sooner. You make a lot of good points. There were seal hunters that were clubbing the seals and taking the furs and leaving the rest and those that use everything. Can't fault them for that--I like an occasional steak.
We will be checking into the ASPCA soon and see what they have to offer.

I also try to stay away from the radicals and politics of a lot of groups. If we can make a small difference at our shelter, then I'm happy. Hopefully, some day we'll make a big difference.

Check our new Forum under Pets

QUOTE (lector @ Sep 1 2007, 09:57 PM)

I'm a big animal welfare supporter, but some of the organizations are a little too *militant* for my tastes. The ultimate solution to animal welfare has to have both people and animals in mind...instead of an agenda that makes people fight and hate each other and commit acts of violence. :downer: I do not tolerate animal cruelty of any kind, but I also understand that people hunt for food and also eat meat.

I'm against any kind of radical, extremist, fundamentalism, violence, whether it be religion, politics, animal welfare, etc. We all have to learn to live together on this planet.

:agree: :agree: :agree:

*heavy sigh*

This is a subject I personally feel very strongly about, and I'll try to explain why. I know, some can not/will not understand, but here goes anyway...

First, these animals are not capable of birth control themselves. If you don't want to be burdened with their unwanted extra offspring, spay or neuter your pet(s). You need to take the responsibility – it’s your animal, take care of it. If you can’t (or won’t), then don't own any animals. Very simple. :crazy:

Why is it that so many people think it’s the Humane Society’s *responsibility* to take in their unwanted animals??? It is not, I assure you. The humane society – and most organizations like them – exist because they try to help with education as well as caring for the abandoned, neglected, and abused animals that dispassionate humans throw away or stop caring for. If you don’t want your animal anymore, don’t try blaming it on “full” animal shelters – it’s not their fault (the animals or the shelters) that you can’t (or won’t) take responsibility any longer.

I am constantly surprised at the anger and outright indignation some people show when they come to the shelter with the expectation of dropping off their animals (and then going on their merry way), and how hateful they get when we can’t accept them. Like it’s the shelters fault that the owner neglected to spay/neuter their animals for the umpteenth time?!? Or else they’ll try the threatening tactic, which goes something like this, “So, if you won’t take it, then I’ll just drop it off alongside the road somewhere”, or “If you don’t take it, I’ll just shoot it!”. Why do these animal owners get so mad (and generally verbally abusive) at the shelter (and/or the volunteers and/or the staff) for something that is clearly the owners fault?

If you think for one moment that “oh, it’ll survive on it’s own, it’s an animal – it can fend for itself” as you are tossing it out in the park, deserted area, back roads, or down the road from the shelter, think again. These are domesticated animals, which means that they look to us for their food, shelter, and care. By throwing them out like so much trash, you are absolutely signing their death warrant – it’s just a helluva lot longer and a slower death, and more agonizing, as they are literally starving to death – just so you can save a few bucks instead of having them spayed/neutered (or yes, even euthanized) yourself.

That sweet, adorable, cute, funny, and precious little bundle of fur that you get is eventually going to grow up, and may not be as sweet, adorable, cute, funny and/or precious anymore. If you can not/will not be willing or able to take care of it when it grows up (and grows out of that "cute, etc." stage), then don't get it. And if/when you don't like it/love it anymore, don’t abandon it, i.e., throw it away (believe it or not, it’s not garbage!), and/or expect that someone else (like the Humane Society) will *happily* accept it into their already overrun facilities.

People think the shelters should euthanize when they have had certain animals for a certain length of time, or if they are getting on in years? Why? Just because the older dog/cat isn’t a puppy/kitten anymore? I’d rather have an older dog any day than have to deal with training a puppy. Of course, that’s just me. I don’t like to encourage proliferation of animals just to satisfy those who want a puppy or kitten just because “it’s soooo cute!”.

Got a new batch of unwanted puppies or kittens? Whose fault is it? Not the humane society’s. Their suggestion was that you spay or neuter your animals – it’s your fault if you don’t want to do it, so you need to take care of the situation. You either find good homes for them or take them to the vet yourself to be euthanized, but don’t expect to use the vet or the humane society as your animals’ birth control device. And don’t try to blame it on the shelter because they already happen to be full of everyone else’s “throw aways”. And the thing that really gets me is that these same people do the same thing… over and over again! Instead of getting them ‘fixed’, they would rather dump them.

You think “out of sight, out of mind”? Picture your poor little cat or dog that you just dumped out, starving to death, lonely, eaten alive by fleas/ticks (or God knows what else), scared, and confused. Nice way to go, huh? Personally, I’d much rather see the owner of that animal “put down” than I would see the animal suffer one moment in its life. Some might say I value an animals life over that of a humans; not true. I just know that a human can take care of themselves whereas the animal really can’t… plus, if a human is going to treat an animal that way, I don’t believe they’re truly human anyway, more like an aberration with a black, soulless heart. Sometimes, when I see people acting like this, I actually feel ashamed to be human… and then I pray to God that there is a place in Heaven for those poor, mistreated animals that have suffered so at our hands. :crying:

I hear complaints from people that “the humane society is full”, or “they turned us away”. Yes! They are full, dammit! They are full of the throw-aways, strays, abandoned, abused, and neglected animals. And just where do you think they come from? They most certainly do not fall from the sky! I hear people say, “Oh, what a horrible situation… somebody needs to DO something about this!”. I wish I had a penny for every time I heard someone say this! Well, here’s a newsflash on what “somebody” can do: DO get your pets spayed/neutered; DO donate your time, money, products, or whatever to your local humane society; DO volunteer at the shelter; DO try and spread the word and have others DO the same. Make that “somebody” be yourself… DO something – anything positive – besides complain and exacerbate the situation.

Most anyone can help the shelters. It’s not rocket science, you don’t need a degree and you don’t have to be rich – you just have to care. I have opened my home (and my heart) to a needy animal time and time again. I am one of the local shelter’s “foster mom”. I have very little money, but a whole lot of time, so I donated some of that time. I volunteer at the shelter and I’ll take in an animal when I can… if it’s sick, I’ll try to nurse it back to health, or if it just needs some one-on-one time (such as a couple kittens I fostered right after they were spayed – they didn’t come out of the anesthesia as fast as they should have and just needed a warm, quiet place to recoup), etc. One of the things I like to do is build and maintain websites, and so I donated my webmastering skills to our local shelters, Humane Society of the Ouachitas (HSO) and City of Mena Animal Control (CoMAC), and now we have the “MenaPets.org” website.

I can’t for the life of me understand why people put down animal shelters? The shelter didn’t create the problem – it is only trying to help eliminate it. I personally don’t feel that anyone has a right to complain, berate, or condemn them. If you don’t like it, make it better! Don’t bitch about it – pitch in and help it be a better place. If you feel it’s overcrowded, donate a buck or two to help them expand. Somebody said “we need a place for animals to be given shelter while new homes are sought for them”. Okay, and what is your suggestion or alternative when “that place” gets full? How about you donating money to the shelter? How about you volunteering? How about you fostering the animal until a new home can be found? Yeah, how about it? DO something about it. In my opinion, if you don’t have a solution or suggestion - or can’t offer an idea for a better way - you don’t have the right to complain. People are too quick to criticize and to apathetic to help make it better. As it is, the shelters are doing the very best they can with what very little they have.

Okay, guess I’ll get down off my soapbox now. Didn’t mean to make this my personal forum or anything, just want to help a few of God’s creatures who can’t help themselves. Also, to let anyone who is interested know that if they would like to lend a helping hand, your assistance would be greatly appreciated – by the animals as well as the humans – and that it doesn’t have to be on any grand scale. If you have an extra dollar or two, we would gratefully accept it. If you have an hour or so, we’d welcome you at the shelter to walk a dog or hold a kitty in your lap. If you have a skill or trade that might help us out, give us a call or stop in – we’d love to talk with you. And by all means, if you would like to find a special animal, please look to a shelter as your first choice for a loving pet, won’t you? I’ll just bet your “forever friend” is there, just waiting for you to come and take them home…. :wub:

:rock: BRAVO!!! :rock:

That is deserving of a standing ovation! :thumb:

Come on people.....let's contribute!! :)

About 6 years ago I got over the loss of my previous best friend and decided it was time to look for another one. I decided to go to For the Sake of Animals and look around, they had brought a few dogs to the place just down from the radio station, for the day. As I was walking around looking, there was this copper colored with black highlights, female about 2 years old, when I got to her she looked at me and her eyes shined, like she had been waiting for me.
Needless to say I have had her for 6 years and she is my best friend. She is half black lab and half red chow. She is one of the family and she is very protective of me. But she loves to play with my grandchildren.
If you are looking for a new member for your family, please check out the animals in our local shelters. These animals did not ask to be abandoned and they will love you with all of their heart, if you will let them and treat them right.
:scratch: But please make up your mind that you want them, for as long as they live, because that will be how long that they will want you. :thumb:
And make sure that all of your best friends are spayed or nuetured, not only will this help with overpopulation, but they will also not wander from home if you don't have a fenced in yard.
By the way my best friends name is Penny and I want to thank For the Sake of Animals for taking care of her for me, until I got there. :thumb:

MenaPets, Focus, Angelsgranny--All I can say is thank you for caring. I know there are a lot of caring people out there. Our "furbabies" don't ask for much--just some food, shelter and love and they give so much in return. I hope I haven't repeated myself but that's how I feel.

:scratch: Isn't MenaPets and Catsndogs one and the same person?? :scratch:

No, MenaPets and catsndogs are not the same person. Do we sound that much alike? :D

Sorry.....my bad! :downer:

Mena Pets, thank you for telling it like it is, and putting blame where blame is due. All those unwanted pets, and some jackass is shooting wanted pets. :rant: If I didn't have so many pets, I would gladly open my home to more. (BTW, 2 are rescues and all are fixed.)

I'm glad it's a "no-kill" shelter, and I wish everyone had as big a heart as you. I also wish people would live up to their responsibility and care for their animals, or at least deal with the consequences and find homes for the pups/kittens, or keep them themselves. I have never given up a pet; I feel that if you adopt one, it's like adopting a child, and it is for life. Pets are not disposable trash; they didn't ask to be born into such a heartless world. I think people who shoot, dump, or abuse these poor pets are low class trash with poor moral fiber, and when the time comes, they will be judged and dealt with as such. Remember, God sees everything. People that care for the creatures will have a special place when their time comes, too. Just my opinion.

QUOTE (Focus @ Sep 10 2007, 03:03 PM)

:scratch: Isn't MenaPets and Catsndogs one and the same person?? :scratch:

Nah, she's the purty one... I'm the creative one! :D

QUOTE (katrinasq @ Sep 11 2007, 11:20 PM)

Mena Pets, thank you for telling it like it is, and putting blame where blame is due. All those unwanted pets, and some jackass is shooting wanted pets. :rant: If I didn't have so many pets, I would gladly open my home to more. (BTW, 2 are rescues and all are fixed.)

I'm glad it's a "no-kill" shelter, and I wish everyone had as big a heart as you. I also wish people would live up to their responsibility and care for their animals, or at least deal with the consequences and find homes for the pups/kittens, or keep them themselves. I have never given up a pet; I feel that if you adopt one, it's like adopting a child, and it is for life. Pets are not disposable trash; they didn't ask to be born into such a heartless world. I think people who shoot, dump, or abuse these poor pets are low class trash with poor moral fiber, and when the time comes, they will be judged and dealt with as such. Remember, God sees everything. People that care for the creatures will have a special place when their time comes, too. Just my opinion.

Thanx, Kat. :wub:

QUOTE (katrinasq @ Sep 11 2007, 10:20 PM)

Pets are not disposable trash

I wish somebody would tell that to the people who *owned* the 5 dogs/cats I now have at my property (which were dumped here) and which I rescued (and which are all spayed/neutered now as well). :whistle:

(Actually, many more have been dumped over the years, and I've found them loving homes....AFTER also having them spayed and neutered.)

While the law defines companion animals as "property", we all realize that this legally-recognized value does not take into account the deep emotional bonds we have with our pets.

As one judge in an animal cruelty case said: " A companion dog is not a living room sofa. An inanimate object. Intentionally killing a dog or cat is qualitatively different than smashing a plate."

(BTW, this was a case where a neighbor shot someone's dog for no reason, other than it was standing loose, on the sidewalk near his yard.)

The judge said: "People have a right to defend themselves, their families, and their livestock from animals.

But unless your dog was posing an immediate threat, there was probably no legal justification for shooting her. This is true even though you may have been violating a leash law by having your dog off your property."

I tend to agree. :thumb:

[B][FONT=Courier][SIZE=7][COLOR=blue]
I'm a bit late in all this discussion, but a while back.....several weeks back, I read a comment about an animal hoarder in Cove. I know who this is referring to, and know her very well. We were teachers together in Florida. I was and am highly impressed with her love for her animals and the excellent care she gave them.

Since no one seems to know her, you could benefit from going to her website.

Go to : www.pathwai.org/

Go to words "Animal Rights" in blue print and click

Click onto " The attempted destruction of Lodestar Shelter"

Sincerely,

Schoolteacher!

QUOTE (schoolteacher @ Oct 7 2007, 08:09 PM)

you could benefit from going to her website.

Benefit how? I don't get it. I went to your site thinking there was another animal shelter in Polk County.

I saw photos of shelters from way back in 2002, Lodestar Shelter, and Polk County, and an anonymous rant against ELF and PETA.

I googled "Lodestar Shelter, Arkansas"

The page I got had a link to a court injunction charging Lodestar with animal cruelty in Florda in 1992.

Another link had another court case, where that same shelter, Lodestar, is charged with animal abuse here, in Arkansas, in 2002.

Why is a shelter that's been closed by the courts twice--- for abuse--- being considered as an alternative for abandoned pets in this topic? :scratch:

QUOTE (lector @ Oct 8 2007, 01:57 AM)

QUOTE (schoolteacher @ Oct 7 2007, 08:09 PM)

you could benefit from going to her website.

Benefit how? I don't get it. I went to your site thinking there was another animal shelter in Polk County.

I saw photos of shelters from way back in 2002, Lodestar Shelter, and Polk County, and an anonymous rant against ELF and PETA.

I googled "Lodestar Shelter, Arkansas"

The page I got had a link to a court injunction charging Lodestar with animal cruelty in Florda in 1992.

Another link had another court case, where that same shelter, Lodestar, is charged with animal abuse here, in Arkansas, in 2002.

Why is a shelter that's been closed by the courts twice--- for abuse--- being considered as an alternative for abandoned pets in this topic? :scratch:

Good Question. :scratch:

does anyone know when the next spay & nueter clinic is?

RSB.....check out "Pets, Animals and Livestock" section of the forum.....listed in the For Sale section.
It was mentioned fairly recently. Hope you can find it.

The next spay/neuter clinic will be Nov. 13, 14 & 15th. Appointments are filling fast. The female cat appointments are almost full but there are openings for males. We started the dog appointments today and they are filling quickly. We are trying to find out if we can add an extra day to this clinic but have not heard back from Arkansans for Animals yet.

Call 394=5682 Tuesday thru Sat and at least get your name on the list. The next clinic will be Jan 22,23 & 24.

Thanks for asking about it and I'm glad we are filling up quickly because it means people care. I just feel bad that I will have to tell some you to wait until the next clinic.

Hmmm....alot of good points in this forum.
BUT..who decidedrsposiblity of a person who had dogs dumped on there land to take care of em. It isn't. THAT is what the shelter is for..for abandoned animals. But they won't take cuz they r full or as For Sake of Animals told me they had a parvo out break and couldn't take em. So here I was with 2 pups that somebody just dumped out of there car. I know this as I live on a dead end county road. This was not the first NOR the last. Just becuz I have Horses..goats...and other animals about don't mean I want ur animals that u decided not to take responsiblity for. So what else was I suppose to do take them else where and dump them...heck no.. I love animals to much for that. So I cleaned them up ..gave them there shots..wormed them ...(while hoping they weren't carry nething that could make my animals sick) i was able to find them a home. I didn't CHOSE to play shelter...I am being forced. How is that FAIR. The so called shelters around here don't care about that...that just say srry and hang up. I would NEVER abandone ne of my animals ever BUT at the sametime why am I haveing to clean up other ppls messes. The shelter needs to make room for animals that have been dumped on other ppl. If that means putting down a dog that has been there for over 4 yrs (and yes 1yr ago when I went there looking for a small dog I was showed her). 4 yrs in a cage. How is that humaneIts suffering just a different type and considered ok??? And here I had 2 very happy puppies that needed help. I believe every animals deserves a family someone to love. They didn't ask to be born stupid ppl who don't spay and nueture cause that BUT we have to be the bigger person and know when its been to long when its time to open a spot and give anothe dog/puppy a chance.
Polk county is a joke when it comes to the wellfare of animals...ecspecially if u live out of city limits... I personally have watch 2 different horse starve to death and a white german shepard nearly die. NOBODY would do nething.. animal control say cuz it in the county not there prob. So whos prob is it??? I have neighbors that breed dogs for nothing more then money..allow them to run free..which have killed many of our chickens and run our horses thru fences...nope nobody cares...BUT wait if i was to do something to protect MY animals I would get in trouble animal abuse they would call it....yea sure. Polk county needs to get its head on straight ...do there jobs they r given...decide the PROPER way to handle things.
As long as there r animals there will always be a need for shelters..stupid ppl will never die out. But they need to decide what is BEST in the interest of not only the animals BUT ppl who have animals either dumped on them or find them abandoned on the side of the road.
I moved here 8 years ago and was appauled at the animal prob ...I actully was made fun of cuz I wanted to save every animal I saw..NOW I know why. The prob is out of control and if more ppl don't start doin what needs to be done it will NEVER be fixed.
So untill then I have NO CHOICE but to care for the animals that show up on my door try and do right by them.(while hoping in the mean time my animals don't get sick)..and continue to watch animals starve to death or ppl beating the crap outt there dogs.... GOTTA LOVE POLK COUNTY!!!! :rant:

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