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Read comments (13)"This is kitten season," said Michael Gregory of BCAC. "This last month we've had so many cats come in that have since had litters. We have about 15 to 17 cats that are adaptable and more who are feral. We are full."
Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association and Shelbyville Animal Country are also full this June, which is Adopt-A-Cat month.
"We all have so many cats right now," said Kimberly Warren of the humane society. "There are litters, and litters and litters of kittens."
Gregory said the biggest reason adaptable animals reaching the point of euthanization is lack of space. About 25 percent of animals were adopted in May and this number indicates fewer people are adopting, which may be due to the warmer weather.
Also, Gregory has noticed few adoptions are taking place through Petfinder.com, an online pet adoption agency.
Cats are not the only pets in need of new homes.
Gregory said as of May 31, more pets had entered the doors of BCAC than they had in the entire previous fiscal year. Last fiscal year 1,740 pets entered BCAC. This fiscal year, Gregory said he has already taken in about 1,700.
"This is the highest year ever," he said. "We have had 50 come in just this week."
For more information, contact BCAC at 685-1300, the humane society at 684-5463 or Shelbyville Animal Control at 684-6552.
http://www.beesleyhumane.org/services.ht...
I think it is wonderful when people help other people...If that is what they want to do ...If you do not want to help others then you should not put the people down that like to help others...You never know when you may be the person that needs a helping hand...I am guessing then you would not mind the help from someone....There is a mobil that goes around and will fix your pet for free...I can not think of the name of it right now....I visited the Humane Association a few weeks back and there were about 30 kittens in there then...a man had brought about 6 or 8 in that had been born in his barn....I left my name and number with them to give my time to help them if they ever needed help..I have not heard from anyone...The couple of dogs I looked at were in need of a bath bad...i would love to give my time and give a bath to them.
No actually I believe a dog or cat should not have litter after litter of babies just like I believe woman should not have litter after litter of children.
But neither do I believe just because you are poor you should be restricted from having a pet in your life, we don't restrict women from having a houseful of babies they can't afford. I personally see nothing wrong with a vet helping the poor spay or neuter their pets, seems to me it would be cheaper in the long run for everyone. It's not like you can give your dog or cat a birth control pill to stop them from having babies.
"I find it ironic that some of the same people who condemn the human underclass for "having too many babies" have no problem with a kitten having her own young before she's a year old or a male dog siring untold numbers of puppies in a single year."
Quantumcat, you hit the nail on the head with this statement.
If people can't afford an animal, they shouldn't have one. That is just plain common sense. A person should meet their own basic needs- food, shelter, medical, etc. Then if they have enough cash left over for luxuries like a pet, go ahead. When did common sense die in our society?
-- Posted by transplant on Tue, Jun 10, 2008, at 9:31 AM
Hmmmm I guess people should take that advice when it comes to children also then maybe so much of my tax money wouldn't go towards caring for other people's children. Then again we could just consider spaying and neutering them also.
If people can't afford an animal, they shouldn't have one. That is just plain common sense. A person should meet their own basic needs- food, shelter, medical, etc. Then if they have enough cash left over for luxuries like a pet, go ahead. When did common sense die in our society?
tenn native
I agree with you why should a vet be ask to give away their services any more than Carpenters, plumbers or electricians who build homes for Habitat or nurses who volunteer their services to the Red Cross or the doctors who open free clinics to the poor or the many people who give their time and gas delivering meals on wheels to the elderly and shut ins.
Maybe we all should just look out for number 1 and stop worrying whether or not the poor have basic needs. A dog or a cat to an elderly shut in is the only family many of them have but I guess that luxury needs to be reserved for only those who can afford it..
One hundred dollars to you or me may not be much to spend on our beloved pets but to some one who only makes $400 a month on Social Security it means not having basic needs.
I know many elderly that take care of their pets better than a lot of people care for their children but do not have the funds for spaying and neutering their animal..should they be deprived of having the love from their pet because they are poor?
Get your critters spayed or neutered.
A vet's time and expertise are his/her stock in trade. Why should a vet be asked to give away a day's work each month? Are those who want to ask vets to do this ready, willing, and able to work one day a month for free to benefit those unwilling or unable to pay for their service or product? Animals should never, ever be adopted or acquired in any manner by those who are unwilling or unable to assume the financial burden. It's not just about you and your desire for the cute little kitty or puppy, it is also about that animal's welfare and the welfare of this community.
Unneutered animals perpetuate the problem.
If a pet's genes are so necessary to preserve,take a sample of their sperm or ova and store it - or get one of those cloning gadgets they use for livestock.
Then neuter the pet so there won't be unwanted litters.
For those who don't require their pet to have a reduced risk of hormone-based ailments,they can have hysterectomies or vasectomies/prostate removal and still have the urges that cause fights,crying,etc.
I find it ironic that some of the same people who condemn the human underclass for "having too many babies" have no problem with a kitten having her own young before she's a year old or a male dog siring untold numbers of puppies in a single year.
If neutering is too high,how can we afford an endless sucession of baby animals?
Even the cuteness factor fades when the animals are malnourished,diseased and unsociable because food,water,shelter,grooming,vaccinations,worming,flea and tick control,training and other necessities weren't available.
Having fewer pets means every animal has a higher quality of life.
A neutered pet is a sign that its caregivers were responsible enough to make provision for an animal's welfare before they added it to their family.
(Just as one budgets for a human baby before it's born.)
"Dog Catchers" have a bad reputation for being the people who round up animals and kill them.
They wouldn't have to perform that sad and distasteful side of their job nearly as much if we allowed them more success at re-homing animals that they knew would have a healthy,happy and secure future.
The creatures that the local officials take in are the lucky ones.
They will spend,at least, part of their lives with their physical needs met and some moments of recognition before they die.
The ones that have no humans to take care of them might never have those luxuries.
Low cost neutering would be great if enough people supported the cause.
"Parenting classes" and training classes would prevent a lot of abandonment and abuse,as well.
It should be as hard to get a pet or marry as it is to get a gun.
If a person is acting on impulse,maybe he's not ready to assume the responsibility that comes with taking this step.
If he can wait and show he understands what he's getting into and will be a good steward of his duties,then maybe there won't be any suffering coming from an ill-equipped person taking on more than he can handle.
I agree that one shouldn't have to declare what kind of pet one wants beforehand.
(Sometimes,a match of the soul matters more than the physical.)
But,many shelters are now "interviewing" animals and humans to see if issues such as size,age,gender,temperament,living conditions,etc. would make this or that combination appropriate for all concerned.
All of this boils down to THINKING about what it means to have the power of life and death over another being.
If we want the perks of loving them and being loved back,then the price of that love is putting their welfare ahead of our wallets,our whims or our convenience.
Dr Perryman used to work with the Humane Society to spay/neuter at a reduced price. He helped alot of people who did not have alot of money, but made up for it with big hearts for animals. If our local vets would give just one day a month to helping these animals, it would have a tremendous impact on the Bedford County animal population.
Well the last time I went to the BCAC I thought the way they do things are a little over the top. You cant just look at a display of pets you have to tell the lady what kind,size,color,etc that you want and then she tells you if she has it. At the Shelbyville Animal Control you can just go back with a officer and look at the animals. Something else that bothers me is it should be my decision when I adopt a pet if I wanna have it spayed or neutered. My pet is fixed and I probably wouldnt have it ant other way but it still should be a choice. Another way to adopt out the pets faster is to maybe one day a month just charge the public whats it gonna cost to put the animal down. ( the cost of a injection) Just my opinion!
Why can't someone ask the local vets to give their services I don't know maybe a couple times a months and spay and neuter the animals in this county. It is terribly expensive and some cannot afford it. It would be very helpful.