Sheltering animals

A story in last week's Southeast Missourian detailed the need of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri for a new shelter building. The Humane Society says the current building at 2536 Boutin Drive in Cape Girardeau no longer is large enough for the numbers of animals the shelter takes in -- more than 2,800 dogs and cats so far this year.

It also lacks the amenities -- exercise room, space to segregate sick animals, climate controls and more animal runs -- a modern shelter that animals should have.

Contributions from Cape Girardeau County and the cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson along with donations, adoption fees and fund-raising efforts barely cover the $250,000 annual cost of operating the shelter, leaving nothing for a building fund. The shelter board is left hoping to locate a benefactor who might help them out of this dilemma.

The shelter performs a valuable service for the community. Imagine the problems if those dogs and cats were running loose.

The Humane Society could help its quest for better facilities by drawing up plans for what it needs and determining how much such a project would cost. When potential donors are informed about real needs and their associated price tags, they can respond accordingly with their giving. Having such a plan would also be a good indication of the scope of the proposed project and what it entails.

At this point, a new building appears to be a long-term goal. But if most of the people in Cape Girardeau County who own and love a pet made a donation to the Humane Society, the improvements would begin to materialize.

The shelter's Web site is www.semopets.org. Its phone number is 334-5837.