Citrus: Holidays send flood of unwanted pets to shelter

Holidays send flood of unwanted pets to shelter

The county animal center gets dozens of new residents in an influx likely to last into January.

By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer

INVERNESS -- Blaze is a bulldog mix with sharply pointed ears, an inquisitive nature and no home.

The dog was left with a rope tied around its neck at the Citrus County Animal Control center Friday by a man who said he no longer could afford to keep it.

"He said it was his child's dog but didn't know the dog's age, his medical history or whether he had been sterilized," said Xan Rawls, the county's animal control director.

Blaze was the latest in a veritable avalanche of animals unloaded on the center after Christmas. People brought in 38 dogs and cats in the past two days.

"We got slam dunked, big time," said Marian Rogers, a kennel worker. "I've got dogs on top of dogs out there in the kennels, which isn't the healthiest situation. But what else are we going to do?"

In addition to the 38 animals who were surrendered to the center, workers also took in 11 animals who bit people.

In short, it's getting pretty crowded at the county's only taxpayer-funded shelter for unwanted pets. There are currently 55 cats and 70 dogs being housed at the facility, which can accommodate about 200 animals.

Rawls, who was appointed Animal Control director in August, said it was not unusual to see a high number of abandoned animals around the holidays.

"People are traveling, people are economically stressed," she said. "There are also a lot of family activities, so the pet gets less attention."

Staff members are already bracing for the inevitable wave of animals they will receive in mid January, when the puppies and kittens given as Christmas presents are returned.

Unlike many centers, Citrus County does not set a time limit before animals are euthanized. Workers take into account space concerns as well as the age, health and temperament of the animal.

But after a while, it becomes more humane to kill an animal rather than allow it to languish in the shelter, Rawls said.

Animals that are caged for too long develop depression, which makes them more temperamental and weakens their immune system.

Christy Hand, president of the Humane Society for Citrus County, said she was saddened to hear of the recent surge at the animal control center.

"Unfortunately, too many people treat their animals as if they are disposable," she said. "Animals are a commitment. They are members of the family."

Members of the Humane Society, as well as animal control employees, are working hard to boost the number of adoptions. Hand said her organization was searching for a site to serve as an adoption center for pets taken from animal control.

Hand said the new center might entice people who have been hesitant to visit animal control, which is located next to the Inverness airport.

"Some people are afraid it's going to be sad, or maybe they have an image of these animals being rejects, and that's not the case," she said.

Hand said the organization was still in the fundraising phase of the project.

The root cause of the problem, animal supporters agree, is the continuing need for people to sterilize their pets. This cuts down on the unwanted population and makes for healthier animals, Rawls said.

Still, not everyone at the animal control center Friday was dropping off an animal: Dawn Johnson, 8, was searching for a dog to replace her grandmother's Lhasa apso.

"I want one who is small and black, just like hers," Dawn said.

The dog -- Cracker Bear -- was put down about two months ago at the age of 16, said Dawn's mother, Theresa Leon.

They didn't find a suitable replacement among the dogs offered on Friday. But they haven't given up yet.

"We'll definitely be back," Leon said.