No one likes to hear about abused animals in the news, like the recent story of a dog in Texas who was found with her muzzle taped shut, tongue hanging out and bloated. The local sheriff?s department said that Hope?s medical bills have been paid for by donations and that a $35,000 reward has been raised to convict Hope?s tormentors. Donations have poured in from around the nation.
But did Hope?s tragedy lead to other abandoned animals finding their ?forever? home? Can an injured mutt in Texas help a beagle in Chesterfield find a new family?
Patch called up the Humane Society of Missouri and chatted with Debbie Hill, the Vice President of Operations. She said the answer is not so simple.
?We?ve seen cases of abuse or neglect. They will spark an interest in adopting that animal,? she said. However, they can only select one family for a needy pet. When several families become interested in one animal they conduct ?interviews to make sure the pet goes to the home which is the best fit for it.
?We want to make matches so the animals become part of the family,? Hill said. ?It may not be the animal that drew them in.?
Hill pointed out that many breeds have certain needs?perhaps a big yard, an active family or a family without small children. Not all dogs would be happy going to a home where they would sit in a crate for eight hours a day while the family is away at work or school.
Sometimes those horrific news reports help shelters in the long run, by placing a seed of awareness in the back of a potential adopter?s mind. They may not run out and adopt an animal today, but Hill said later, when they are ready for a four-legged addition to their family, they think of adopting instead of buying from a breeder.
Hill said that not every pet in their care has been abused.
?Sometimes they were lost, or given up,? she said. ?Every animal has a story.?
Many animals come to the Humane Society as puppies or kittens. Those younger animals find homes quickly. Older dogs have a tougher time.
?Most animals rebond quickly. They?re social animals,? she said. Hill said shelter pets also seem to know they?ve been given a second chance and are grateful to their new families.
Pets that come to the Humane Society are evaluated for health and behavior issues. If they can treat the pet?s problems, they do so. Some animals are given to rescue groups to provide a foster home for longer recoveries or for training. Sadly, some pets are deemed too ill or too dangerous and are put down humanely.
Hill said once a animal is placed up for adoption they are given as much time as they need to find a new home. Some pets?puppies or popular breeds?may go in a few days. Others take months.
The Humane Society has volunteers who take dogs out for walks every day. Cats don?t need as much exercise, but staffers are fond of taking them out and playing with them. All the kennels are stocked with toys and Hill said they do treat enrichment exercises.
The Humane Society places thousands of animals with new homes. The location in Chesterfield can house about 100 pets. All the adoptable animals are placed in kennels with clear front panels. Cats are placed around the gift shop, while dogs are in a separate room in the rear of the building.
The main location on Mackland Avenue, near Forest Park, can house around 500 animals and the West Port location can hold about 150.
The Humane Society welcomes visitors to come view the pets whenever they are open with no appointment required. The Humane Society is also an ?open door? shelter that can take in animals 24 hours a day.
Please note: All the photos were taken at the Chesterfield location of the Humane Society on Thursday afternoon. If you see an animal you like, there's a good chance it is still there, waiting for you.
Source: http://chesterfield.patch.com/articles/can-tragedy-spark-interest-in-adopting-shelter-pets
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