Published: Monday, Nov. 09, 2009 / Updated: Monday, Nov. 09, 2009 06:56 PM
Lancaster shelter wants to find pets ‘homes for the holidays'
Foster and permeant families needed to take in dogs and cats before they're euthanized
INDIAN LAND --
Last week, 95 dogs and cats were brought to Lancaster County Animal Control. Of those animals, 35 have already been euthanized and, if they don't find a home, the rest will lose their lives later this week.
The foster homes that offer space for cats and dogs until a new owner can be located are also full, said Mary Reimers, president of the Humane Society of Lancaster, South Carolina. But Reimers isn't giving up on the hundreds of dogs and cats that might be brought to the shelter between now and Christmas.
Reimers and the Humane Society have launched “Home for the Holidays,” to encourage people in the Lancaster County area to invite a pet into their home for the holidays, possibly saving its life until a permanent home is found.
“We want these pets home for the holidays,” Reimers said. “We take some pets we can save and put them in foster care but we can't do that unless we have a foster home waiting for them and if we're full, like we are, there is no where to put them.”
A foster home is a temporary solution, Reimers said, but gets the animal out of harm's way while the Humane Society can make efforts to find a permanent home.
At the animal shelter, stray dogs and cats are given five days before they are euthanized to allow time for an owner to come forward and collect the pet. If the pet is turned in by the owner, the dog or cat is only sheltered for one day before being euthanized.
Foster homes are critical to avoid losing more dogs and cats, Reimers said.
She also points to the Humane Society's spay and neuter program as a critical component in caring for the county's pet population. The Humane Society offers discounted spaying or neutering to anyone interested, Reimers said.
“Anyone from any county if they want to get the pet spayed or neutered, contact us and we'll do it,” Reimers said.
Since the Humane Society of Lancaster, South Carolina was incorporated last year, the organization has placed 75 dogs and cats with permanent homes and has 17 in foster care right now. They work alongside the Lancaster County Animal Control office to connect pets with permanent owners, and to rescue animals into foster care when possible. The group also fronted the money for a large sign that identifies the county's animal shelter.
Reimers hopes the sign will provide the shelter with greater visibility and remind county residents to look there for a pet before they buy an animal from a breeder.
“Just about anything you want is there, so why go to a breeder and pay $400 or $500 and perpetuate the problem?” Reimers said.
Cats in particular are hard to place with new homes, Animal Control officer Joel Hinson said.
“If you're a cat, you don't stand a chance,” Hinson said.
For more information on the Humane Society of Lancaster, South Carolina or the Home for the Holidays program, contact the group at 803-285-LOVE or go to www.savelancasterscpets.org, where you can see photos of pets up for adoption
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