The Humane Society may not turn away any animal in need, but is that really helping every animal in need?
Greater Androscoggin Humane Society Director Steve Dostie stated that I gave “bad advice” in a recent column regarding the puppies that were abandoned in Rumford (May 4).
Supposedly, the individual who dumped the pups did so because he didn’t want to pay a fee to bring them to my shelter. Dostie indicated his Auburn shelter never refuses an animal in need and they would have taken the pup, free. Because I charge, he is insinuating that I’m to blame for the abandonment. He is insinuating that I refused these puppies, which is false.
The individual who allegedly dumped the puppies never contacted my shelter inquiring about a fee. This individual is also not from my contracting jurisdiction. I try to stay within my jurisdiction when taking in animals, which I feel makes for better animal control within the communities.
To allow people to bring in private animals for free is financially impossible and it does nothing to educate people on the importance of neutering. If Dostie wants to take animals free, then what incentive would people have to neuter their pets?
Talk about bad advice.
The point is, everyone has choices in life.
The man accused of dumping the puppies could have listed them in Uncle Henry’s, put a sign at the end of his driveway or put up posters in local stores. He had choices, but the animals were abandoned.
Dostie has a problem with Uncle Henrys? I don’t.
As a shelter, we are here because we love and want to help animals in need. We are here to provide a service to the towns and state. People are not bound to use our services. People have choices.
Sometimes people call inquiring about surrendering their pets but they want to know who adopts them. I tell them that information is confidential and they will not be told. I encourage those people to list in Uncle Henry’s, giving them the control as to who will be taking their pet. If they get shady characters knocking on their doors, they can refuse to let the pets go, just as shelters do.
Again, choices.
Advertising in Uncle Henry’s is no different than how shelters advertise our homeless pets. Shelters put full page ads in the paper, some display animals in shops, some put posters up at local veterinarian offices. Advertising is advertising. Plain and simple. Once the phone starts ringing, then we make the choices.
I had some wonderful families come to my shelter wanting to adopt my dogs and puppies. They all went through the same application process that Dostie requires and I trust these adopting families.
Can I guarantee the future of the animals? No way! I can only trust and feel good about their future.
I interpreted Dostie’s column as suggesting that his organization is encouraging people from throughout the state to use his shelter versus others because his shelter provides many wonderful services.
In a Sun Journal article dated Jan. 31, 2001, titled “Dirty little secret,” Dostie painted a different picture.
The article explained that his shelter is overcrowded, smelly, dirty and putting animals to sleep at a rate of two per day. Dostie was quoted as saying, “we can’t say sorry, we’re full – with the capacity limit of 83 – there is not enough room to hold all of the healthy animals long enough to adopt. When they’re full and a new arrival shows, another must die.”
This article reported how 59 percent of the animals brought to that shelter are put to sleep, and that “dogs sat and barked on damp, cement floors – puppies sat in plastic carriers.”
I visited that shelter once and noticed a pregnant dog. Asking what would happen to the puppies, I was told that “when they are born, they would be put to sleep.” I was told, “after a while you get tough.”
Dostie may not turn away any animal in need, but is he really helping every animal in need?
After reading the 2001 article, I can’t understand why he is encouraging an onslaught of animals from out of his jurisdiction to be brought to his shelter, especially for free.
Marsha L. McKenna owns McKennels in Rumford.
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