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Talks on pets look hopeful
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer Some dogs and cats destined to die by the needle could be spared, thanks to an arrangement expected to be reached today between the Humane Society of North Pinellas and Pasco County Animal Control. Rick Chaboudy, executive director of the Humane Society office, said he was prodded into action after a story about the Animal Control shelter appeared in the St. Petersburg Times. The article published last month told the story of dozens of unwanted pets euthanized each week at the Pasco facility and the county's related attempt to crack down on owners of female dogs in heat. The article was accompanied by a picture of dogs that had just been euthanized, prompting letters to the Times from residents who were both angry at the newspaper's judgment and upset about the problem. Chaboudy said he received both phone calls and copies of the articles from residents and employees. "People were asking, "Is there any way we can help them up there?' " Chaboudy said. "It struck a chord, and that's a good thing. As individual shelters, we need to work together a little bit more." Chaboudy says his shelter has accepted animals from overcrowded shelters in Georgia, North Carolina and all over Florida. "This is only 20 miles away," he said. Chaboudy envisions an agreement under which Pasco's Animal Control officials could call his office to take some animals when Pasco's shelter gets too crowded. "If they get a need, call us; and if we have the space, we'll do it," he said. Chaboudy's shelter holds about 350 animals a day and won't put a time limit on how long they stay. Animals aren't euthanized unless they are very ill and can't be adopted. The shelter's annual adoption rate is 74 percent, he said. Pasco's annual adoption rate is 19 percent. Its shelter gets very crowded once the dog population reaches about 250, said Animal Control manager Denise Hilton. Once the shelter becomes full, Pasco workers must euthanize animals to make room for more. Chaboudy's help could create more room and buy some time for Pasco's animals. Also, his agency has a network of "foster homes" to house very young puppies and kittens that need special care before they are ready for adoption. Pasco sometimes must euthanize those animals when owners drop them off before they are weaned from their mothers. After meeting today with Hilton and other officials, Chaboudy plans to leave Pasco's shelter with a dozen puppies, including eight such "underage" puppies. "We're just thrilled to pieces to be able to work with him," Hilton said of Chaboudy and today's agreement, the first between their two agencies. "We certainly do work with various Humane Societies and rescue groups, but even at that they get filled to the brim. We thought it was wonderful that Rick responded and opened his facility. "It's going to save some lives, and that's what we all want," she said. -- For more information about the Pasco shelter, call 834-3216. To reach the Humane Society of North Pinellas, call 727/797-7722. -- Saundra Amrhein covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is amrhein@sptimes.com.
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From today's Pasco Times |
