Dear editor:
It was with a sigh of frustration that I read Monday’s letter to the editor from Carl Letsinger.
With this letter, I am hoping to educate him and many other people about the workings of our new shelter.
Carl stated that dogs were being dumped on the county roads because the shelter charges a fee to take the strays. A very few people may use this excuse, but dogs and cats have been dumped on roads, farms, parks, landfills and even in the river for many, many years. These people don’t know and/or don’t care about the extreme hardships and horrible deaths their actions cause.
Our shelter has been open for only a little over four months. It is one of the many reasons we worked so hard for so many years to build a place to try, as best we can, to give them a second chance. Yes, we do ask a $20 fee to take the strays, but it is a small percentage of what it costs us. Every animal we put into the shelter commits us to a minimum of $100. Each animal must be vaccinated, vet checked, often given wormer and other medication and kept until the animal is fully healthy. To date, we have not euthanized ONE animal for space.
Many times, it has taken weeks, if not months, to bring these poor creatures back to a healthy physical and mental state. We are lucky to have some wonderful salaried people and volunteers who are dedicated to the animals. Our director, Andi DePriest, puts in long, long hours trying her best to make our resources stretch as far as she can. When we finally get the animals to an adoptable state, we know the status of their health and temperament and can offer them to the public with confidence that they will make good pets.
Our adoption fees are very reasonable compared to cities like Kansas City, Wichita, Lawrence and Topeka. We adopt dogs out for $99 and cats out for $49. Each price is below what we have spent on them. When you adopt from the shelter you are getting a dog or cat that is healthy, had all vaccinations and been spayed or neutered. They are ready to go to their forever homes. Just try to get one of those “free to a good home” animals and get all that done for that price. It will be hard, if not impossible, to do.
Also, keep in mind that we are not federally or state funded nor do we qualify for many grants until we have been open for six months. We charge our contracted cities $75, which is also below our cost.
Where does the money come from to do all this? From our modest fees, our fundraisers and donations. We depend on the good will of you, the people. Have you donated to us? Are you a member of ACARF? Do you volunteer so we can keep our expenses down? Do you come to meetings to find out what’s going on?
We need your support, not your condemnation. We are working very, very hard to provide a safe haven for these poor abused, abandoned, neglected and un-wanted animals. Will you help us? If you have questions or comments about the shelter and how it runs, I urge you to go visit. Talk to Andi and the other volunteers. I think you will be impressed. We have a wonderful facility that is the envy of many other counties. Give us a chance to make a difference.
Jeanne Cloud
Iola, Kan.
