Careless owners keep shelter full

Dogs put at risk of euthanization

Dog-rescue advocates are justified in being upset that too many dogs are being euthanized at the Franklin County dog shelter, but they’re wrong in where they place the blame.

The government-run shelter is stuck with the heartbreaking chore of putting down sick, injured and unadoptable dogs because of the irresponsibility of dog owners who fail to spay or neuter their pet.

No one wants to kill a dog. But we have seen what happens when compassion and a zealous determination to keep every dog alive overtakes a science-based shelter management. The shelter becomes overcrowded, disease takes hold and spread — and pups that otherwise might live to be adopted, must be put down.

We saw this happen a few years ago, when a shelter director allowed the old building to fill up; dogs were stacked in cages in hallways. At one point, a shelter veterinarian feared every dog there would contract parvo. Conditions were so unhealthy that vets from Ohio State University, whose concerns were dismissed, sounded the alarm: Conditions were ripe to spread disease into the community, and vicious dogs were being adopted to ( and biting) unsuspecting families.

Just a year ago in September, a new director arrived to similarly worrying conditions at the Northland area shelter. A distemper outbreak had resulted in 99 dogs being euthanized and, before the highly contagious disease was contained, hundreds of dogs had been adopted out or sent to rescue groups in the community. Rescue groups went to court to win a temporary restraining order to halt euthanizations. Relations between animal advocates and county officials were at a nadir.

They still aren’t repaired. When Dispatch reporter Kimball Perry checked in with animalrescue organization leaders recently, he found a lot of frustration and anger.

“We need positive improvements, and I don’t see enough of that,” said Connie Horne, a member of Angels for Animals. She noted that the dog- rescue groups would like to help more dogs, by claiming them from the shelter when they are put on a “rescue” list, after which they have up to 10 days to be adopted, placed in a foster family or put down. But her groups don’t have room to take in more dogs.

Neither does the county shelter, because of irresponsible dog owners. The shelter will never be able to stop killing dogs until slackers get the message to spay or neuter their pet. To those who think their dog is just so special that it ought to have puppies, go to the shelter: Look at all those sad brown eyes in cages. Don’t add to the misery.

The shelter is working to improve conditions and operations. County commissioners spent $50,000 to hire the University of Wisconsin to review shelter procedures and medical policies; they created an advisory board that includes animal advocates; and they made changes at the shelter to contain the spread of disease.

But progress takes time. The county moves at the speed of government. Patience and vigilance is required.

We are encouraged, however, by a recent announcement: An income-based, no- or low-cost spay-and-neuter program should start this year. The most-humane way to handle a pet overpopulation problem is to prevent it. On that, the shelter management and advocates can agree.