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Pets Pouring In Due To Foreclosures

Highlands Today photo by JASMINA MEYER

Joel Humphreys picks up Wylie, a 10-12 week old kitten from the Humane Society of Highlands County, who he adopted as a Christmas present for his mother. Humphreys said his mother has been wanting a cat for awhile since he has a dog at home.

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: December 25, 2008

SEBRING - The high rate of home foreclosures is hitting home at the Humane Society of Highlands County with lots of pets being surrendered by people who just cannot keep them, according to Barbara Clark, president of the Highlands County chapter.

"A lot of people are facing foreclosures now and we're getting a lot of beautiful pets in here," she said. "And breeders are closing."

Marvene McPhee is the shelter director. She said the facility has been full for a long time and there is a waiting list of 43 cats and 11 dogs.

They've been operating at full capacity since the summer, she said.

"People have been very patient and we're working with them," she said.

When there's no room and the people have to surrender their pets they try to find foster homes for these animals until a space opens up.

"There's never a shortage of cats," she said. "We have 58 dogs here and don't ask me on the cats. I lost count a long time ago."

She agreed people are surrendering more animals because of economic reasons. However, people don't always tell them the whole story.

"We're getting more animals because people are moving, relocating for work and finding new jobs," she said. "They're experiencing financial difficulties. Some of our population is surrendering them for health reasons."

Some elderly people may give up their pets because they have to go into nursing homes, she said.

This is a no-kill-for-space shelter, she said.

"We don't put down an animal for space," she said to clarify.

However it's just common sense that if an animal poses a threat to the shelter employees and volunteers or to the other animals it may be put down, she said.

Christmas Pets Discouraged

People are adopting cats, especially kittens at a good rate, Clark said. They require less care than dogs and make excellent gifts.

But no kittens are accepted until they are 9 weeks old and have been checked out for diseases like feline AIDS and feline leukemia.

Joel Humphreys was at the shelter Wednesday picking up Wylie, a 10- to 12-week-old gray and white Christmas kitten, cute as can be.

He was picking up the kitty for his mom, Lucille Humphreys, who has wanted a cat for some time. He said he has a dog at home already.

"Pets as Christmas presents are often not a good thing," said Clark. "We're getting tons of phone calls from people who want puppies. And puppies are a wonderful present if you're prepared for owning a dog - if you're not a first-time dog owner."

But unfortunately, in January the surrender rate tends to go up, she said.

Clark recalled a couple who wanted to give the woman's brother a dog for Christmas. They went through the pens and selected a dog. Clark said they suggested they call the brother and let him come in and pick the dog that's right for him, so they did.

He told them he didn't even want a dog.

"We stick to the policy of if you want to give a Christmas gift of a dog, get a gift certificate - it's good for one year," said Clark. "We try real hard to give people the facts - to match them up with their lifestyle."

Pets Ready To Adopt

Kittens and cats have all their shots, have been wormed and spayed and cost $75 for adoption to cover the costs.

"About 75 percent of our cats and kittens are adopted out of Petco (located at 1704 U.S. 27 N., Sebring)," said Clark.

Dogs are wormed, spayed, have a micro-chip implant, have all their shots prior to adoption and cost $125 to cover rising costs.

As a bonus, they come with a lifetime of obedience classes for free, Clark said.

"Our goal is to adopt out dogs to forever-homes by offering free obedience classes, to deal with problems like chewing, jumping, pulling or potty training," she said. "Ray Mill volunteers one time a week."

Adopted dogs also come with a Petco coupon with an approximate value of $200, an obedience training tape and some food.

But for $35 the owners of other dogs, those not adopted through the society, can also receive obedience training lessons.

"You become a mini dog whisperer when you leave," Clark said.

Clark said they just adopted out Blaze, a dog that's been here a year and a half.

They also adopted an older dog that's 13 years old.

"The dog's name was Ready," she said. "He came in with fatty tumors and skin tags and nobody really wanted him, but he had a zest for life. He loved chasing a ball. Our vet removed the tumors and skin tags and after Ready recovered he just looked like a handsome old man and they adopted him."

Ready still lives with a couple from Melbourne, where he loves chasing his ball and running in the water.

Donations Always Needed

Of late, donations have decreased as far as the amount of money individuals are sending.

The Humane Society of Highlands County relies strictly on private donations. It does not receive funding from the county or from the National Humane Society.

"We have a lot of needs," McPhee said. "We're doing the best we can. It's important the community understands we are funded by private donations. It's just a misconception that we get money from them."

The society has a lot of large dogs right now and larger dogs require more care as well as larger amounts of food.

McPhee suggested that people could give a gift donation.

One animal lover contacted her friends and told them she didn't need anything for Christmas and to make a donation in her name to the Humane Society of Highlands County, she said.

"I think that was lovely," she said.

Others make donations in memory of a loved one or in lieu of a birthday gift.

For many of the animals the shelter has become home.

One very gentle dog, a large mixed breed male named Indiana has been at the shelter since April 18, 2005, and is in need of a good home. That's a long time to feed, walk, bathe and otherwise care for an animal.

Some of the cats have been there since 2007.

"This is their whole existence," McPhee pointed out, as the cats came to the edge of the cages craving human affection. They have created a romp room for the cats to play and socialize.

The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and to send donations is located at 7321 Haywood Taylor Blvd., Sebring, Fla., 33876.

Anyone wishing to adopt a dog or a cat, or to donate to the Humane Society of Highlands County may go in person or for more information call 863-655-1522 or view the animals online at http://www.humanesocietyhc.com.

Highlands Today reporter Joe Seelig can be reached at 863-386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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