by Mary Powell
Do you love your pet?
Then take the responsibility now of planning for the future in case you can't care for it. Recently, a friend told me she knew of a lady who left her cat at the Shelter and claimed her pet was euthanized that very same day.
"Isn't the main reason the FKSPCA took over the animal shelters because the county was killing too many animals there?"my friend asked. "I mean, I thought they were going in the direction of a no-kill shelter."
I called the FKSPCA Animal Shelter and spoke to George Whiting, director of the Key West and Marathon shelters. When I asked him if it were possible that a cat surrendered to the shelter could be euthani- zed that day, he said, "Possibly. We're overloaded in both shelters and there are only so many homes available. If we are seriously overcrowded--every cage, nook and cranny taken-- then surrendered animals-- if they are older, or crotchety-- go first." And animals that have been with an owner for years are usually crotchety and afraid when they are left in this situation.
Gwen Hawtof, president of FKSPCA, has always said that "the shelter is a reflection of the community it serves. And," she emphasized, "we do the best we can to find animals good homes. We don't euthanize a surrendered animal the same day-- only suffering animals-- the sick and injured. But, if you have no where else to take it, surrendering an animal to the shelter is so much kinder than dumping it off to fend for itself."
Whiting explained that under county ordinances, animal control must keep feral cats for three days, and stray animals for five. There is no time limit on euthanization for surrendered animals.
Even Ozzie Osborne, facing death by his own hand, made arrangements for his cat to be cared for after his death.
"Lifetime commitment to your animal means the animal's lifetime," said Whiting. "And the solution to euthanization? Spay, neuter, and education," he said. "Not bigger shelters!"
by Mary Powell
Carl and Penny King live next door to one of my favorite people, Janet Cates. Janet told me about a little dog that her neighbors adopted from the shelter a few weeks ago.
"This dog is so cute," Janet said. "She has a Dachshund body, the face of a Chihuahua, and a bushy Shepherd tail. And Carl and Penny are so happy with her."
Carl and Penny King, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary recently, brought Gidget home from the shelter in May. "She already had that name," said Penny, "so we kept it. But we couldn't bring her home right away."
It seems Gidget had already been spoken for, but the person never showed up to claim her, so a few days later, Carl and Penny got the go ahead from shelter staff to come and take Gidget home.
"We lost our dog Tiffie (short for Tiffany) a year ago," said Penny, "and we missed her so much. Finally, we were ready to adopt another dog, she said, "and Gidget was a small dog like Tiffie.
"Carl would go by the shelter every once in awhile to check and see if there were any small dogs for adoption, but he didn't meet any dogs there that struck him until finally," she said, "Carl came home and said he had met a dog he really fell in love with. That was Gidget."
Since then, which was in May, Gidget has become a permanent member of the King family, and though a King, has been treated like a queen ever since.
Penny and Carl's deceased dog, Tiffie, was not from the shelter. But she was homeless too, just like Gidget. She was a Manchester terrier (the Kings like small dogs) and when Penny was working downtown, someone brought the dog to her, telling Penny that Tiffie was being mistreated. So Tiffie went home with Penny and stayed with them until the end of her life.
"We adopted a dog from the shelter because we think they need us," said Penny. "And after we found Gidget there, we would call the shelter everyday to check on her, until she could come home with us.
"The dogs there need homes. We hate to think of them being put to sleep because they have no homes," said Penny. "And Gidget is such a good dog-- she loves to play-- she's a good jumper!-- and she loves just to sit in your lap, too. She's a very loving companion."
Want a companion for life? The FKSPCA shelter on Stock Island has lots of kittens, dogs and cats that would love to go to a good home. Call them today at 294-4857, or go on out and visit the animals there-- Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
If you are thinking of adopting a pet, adopt from the shelter. You may just find the love of your life there. And when you adopt, please make a lifetime commitment. Your animal will make one to you.