Sunday, June 11, 2000
Hard work will bring changes to dog pound
Everyone wants to save the dogs at the Henry County pound. The outpouring is good news, but it means little in the long run.
Real change will take dedicated citizens working with county officials to improve the animal shelter or build a new one. Attempts have been made before, but volunteers drifted away and county employees were left with the same rotten job of killing society's cast-offs.
A story in Thursday's Enquirer described Henry County's practice of shooting strays in the head. The animals, often injured or starving, are brought to the pound by dog wardens in Gallatin, Trimble and Henry counties.
Pound operator Ted Chisolm visits once a day to feed and water the dogs and hose down the pens. Every two weeks, he also uses a pistol to euthanize.
In response to the story, at least 30 people have called about adopting dogs, says Judy Roberts, deputy judge-executive. But the pound isn't set up for public traffic, so Ms. Roberts has been referring people to Mr. Chisolm for an appointment.
Long-term effort needed
Several years ago, a TV report created a similar stir. The Kentucky Humane Society began transporting Henry's dogs to Louisville, where they were placed for adoption or killed with drugs.
That effort ended after eight months, when the society ran out of space and volunteers to make the drive.
This is where county officials get frustrated. They understand the concern for animals, but they know a few big hearts won't solve the crisis. Too many people still let their pets breed or abandon them when cuteness fades.
“We hate to be the bad guys. We hate to take the responsibility to protect citizens and children from the bad dogs out there, but we have to,” Ms. Roberts says.
She's right. Still, there are better ways to deal with surplus animals. This is where dedicated citizens come in.
An example from Ohio
In Coshocton County, Ohio, three women pressed for change at the county dog pound until they won a contract to run it.
Christina Sturtz volunteered when the pound was open only two hours a day and closed on weekends. At the time, dogs were euthanized in a gas chamber. Once they were dead, dog wardens would throw live cats on top of them, Ms. Sturtz says.
With their farm backgrounds, some county commissioners had little sympathy — they saw strays mainly as a threat to livestock. But the women won over new commissioners, who agreed to contract with their Humane Animal Treatment Association.
The shelter is now open seven hours a day on weekdays and three hours on Saturday. Animals are anesthetized before the fatal injection.
Coshocton is rural like Henry County, but it has an advantage: Dog licenses cost $7, and the law is enforced. This brings in about $57,000 a year, which covers a dog warden and shelter upkeep. The association gets $15,600 more a year to run the shelter.
In Kentucky, dog licenses cost $1.50, and many people don't bother to buy them.
Still, there's reason for optimism. The legislature this spring set aside $1 million for grants to shelters.
I have talked with members of the newly formed Gallatin County Humane Society, and I know they are committed. Working together with county officials, they can turn this story around.
Karen Samples is Kentucky columnist for the Enquirer. She can be reached at 578-5584 or ksamples@enquirer.com.
