Shelters dealing with influx of pets

January 12, 2009 08:35 am

— CUMBERLAND — Some local animal shelters have experienced brisk business in recent months. Workers there say the recession largely is to blame, with owners dropping off their canine and feline companions in greater than usual numbers.
“It’s been ridiculous,” said Bonnie Zimmerman, manager of the Garrett County Animal Shelter in Oakland. “Where we used to have one dog come in, we now have three or four come in at a time.”
Zimmerman said pet owners are telling shelter workers they simply can’t afford to keep their pets. Some people claim they’ve been evicted and no longer have a place to lodge their animals.
“The last three months has been the worst time,” Zimmerman said. “We’ve had more animals than shelter” space.
Zimmerman said her facility’s location puts her and her employees in an especially difficult place. Situated near the borders of Allegany County as well as West Virginia and Pennsylvania, pet owners come from all over to her shelter even though she’s only able to take animals from Garrett County residents.
She said people dodge that obstacle by having a friend or relative who lives in Garrett County claim the pet is theirs and turn it in.
“As much as we try not to take them ... there’s no way we can prove otherwise,” she said.
The Garrett County facility on Friday had 27 dogs in 14 kennels and had nearly 20 cats.
The kennels are stacked in Somerset County, too, according to Chris Sakalas, assistant manager at the Humane Society of Somerset County in Somerset, Pa.
“Shelters are filling up because people are just broke,” she said. “People feed themselves before they feed their pet.”
Sakalas said some of the pets being turned in “are a little bit thin, but not real bad. You can tell they were a pet at one time.”
The Somerset shelter does not euthanize animals, Sakalas said, instead lodging them until each animal finds a good home. The facility currently has about 30 dogs and 30 cats, she said on Saturday.
The Allegany County Animal Shelter in Cumberland is not experiencing an influx of drop-offs, said Camille Carrico, shelter manager. It’s a case of simple economics.
“We’re already economically downturned to begin with; we’re not a real affluent county,” Carrico said. “When you’re more affluent, you collect more things. I think it’s hitting more people ... harder because they had that ready cash. I really don’t think our area quite had that same thing. We’re not seeing it because it wasn’t there to take away.”
Zimmerman said if a family is to adopt an animal, family members all should be a part of the research to ensure the pet is the right one for that family and house. And a commitment to care for the pet should be made before one is brought home.
“I’ve had several cases this week (of) dogs standing in pouring down rain, ice, sleet, who can’t even get to their dog box because they’re tangled,” Zimmerman said. “Make sure they have food and water. People go inside their doors and forget about them. It breaks your heart to see these animals the way they’re abused and neglected. I have a very difficult time going home and going to sleep at night when you know these dogs” are being treated in such a manner.
All three facilities are eager to find good homes for their pets. The Allegany County facility on Furnace Street can be contacted at (301) 777-5930. The Somerset shelter can be contacted at (814) 443-2121 or www.somersetpets.com. The Garrett County Animal Shelter can be contacted at (301) 334-3553 or by e-mail at animalshelter@garrettcounty.org.
Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.

Photos

Tammy Burns, an assistant at the Garrett County Animal Shelter, spends time with several puppies after giving them water at the facility in Oakland. The dogs were dropped off Friday afternoon. All 14 of the shelter’s kennels currently are occupied.