Animal Intake, Euthanasia Numbers Double At Abilene Shelter
By: Katie Thompson
Updated: June 7, 2012
"Basically we ran out of time and space there were 586 animals that we just didn't have space and time for," says Aaron Vannoy, Abilene's Animal Services Director.
Adoption numbers remained steady in the month of May but the shelter's intake numbers have doubled from this time last year.
There's simply not enough space, which means the amount of animals being euthanized, has doubled as well.
"Everyday we're scrambling trying to find additional cages to put animals, having to evaluate animals, which ones can stay longer which ones cant, and trying to do everything we can to extend the life of that animal," said Vannoy.
But there's a bigger issue, and it falls on the owner.
a lack of responsibility, refusing to get pets spayed and neutered, are only adding to this growing problem.
"Owners have to be responsible for those litters. They have to spay and neuter the adults so that they don't reproduce. Then we don't have these continual influx of new animals every season," said Vannoy.
The overcrowding isn't just in Abilene. Shelters and rescue groups across the area are having to turn animals away.
So while they are pushing for people to adopt or reclaim animals, unfortunately, that wont fix the problem..just yet.
"Yes we could probably adopt out 100 animals and that would be a significant number. But, if you are still bringing in 4 or 5 hundred more than you adopt out you still have that same problem of why are those animals coming to us? We as a community have to start working on that," Said Vannoy.
Adoption numbers remained steady in the month of May but the shelter's intake numbers have doubled from this time last year.
There's simply not enough space, which means the amount of animals being euthanized, has doubled as well.
"Everyday we're scrambling trying to find additional cages to put animals, having to evaluate animals, which ones can stay longer which ones cant, and trying to do everything we can to extend the life of that animal," said Vannoy.
But there's a bigger issue, and it falls on the owner.
a lack of responsibility, refusing to get pets spayed and neutered, are only adding to this growing problem.
"Owners have to be responsible for those litters. They have to spay and neuter the adults so that they don't reproduce. Then we don't have these continual influx of new animals every season," said Vannoy.
The overcrowding isn't just in Abilene. Shelters and rescue groups across the area are having to turn animals away.
So while they are pushing for people to adopt or reclaim animals, unfortunately, that wont fix the problem..just yet.
"Yes we could probably adopt out 100 animals and that would be a significant number. But, if you are still bringing in 4 or 5 hundred more than you adopt out you still have that same problem of why are those animals coming to us? We as a community have to start working on that," Said Vannoy.
