LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY BUSY IN '97

Combating the growing problems of pet-overpopulation and animal abuse requires not only conviction and compassion, but assistance from a concerned public.

Even as she issued an appeal for the public's help, Dorothy Morrison, administrator of the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, released preliminary 1997 figures showing an increase in both the number of animals taken in and the number of animals euthanized by the shelter.

In 1997, 5,141 animals were taken into the shelter. Although most of the animals were dogs and cats, the number also included rabbits, chickens, baby ducks, birds, snakes and even an iguana.

Morrison said: "We're happy to accept animals and to keep them as long as they're healthy and we have space for them. But people should know that the shelter is a last-ditch effort."

Just because people take their animals to the Humane Society in hopes that the animals will be adopted, there is no guarantee that a home will be found. The reality is usually much sadder, Morrison said.

In 1997, 1,068 animal adoptions were carried out by the shelter. Another 250 animals were returned to their rightful owners.

But the additional 3,823 animals brought into the shelter -- nearly 75 percent of the total -- had to be euthanized, a figure that Morrison called "staggering." She considers euthanasia to be one of the toughest parts of her job.

"We get attached to these babies. We care for them and love them. But we realize that euthanasia is much better for them than starving, being maimed by a wild animal or getting hit by a car," she said.

Sometimes the number of animals brought to the shelter is so great that the Humane Society has no choice but to euthanize daily. In June, for example, a record number of 697 homeless animals were left at the shelter.

In July, the number was 564. Of that number, 29 pets were returned to their owners and 82 were adopted. The remaining 453 were euthanized.

"We live in a throw-away society. Unfortunately, animals have become part of what we throw away," Morrison said.

In addition to dealing with problems of pet-overpopulation, the Humane Society also assists in cases of animal abuse, responding to abuse and neglect reports that people make and working with animal control to solve the problem.

Morrison reported seeing cases of kittens being brought in with their ears and feet burned by cigarette lighters or of dogs unable to walk or keep their balance because of neurological damage caused by being kicked in the head.

In a Ripley County case, members of the Humane Society and animal control went to a house where they found numerous violations. A possum had a rubber band tied to its testicles. The owners were also feeding it live guinea pigs. A dead goat was found half inside-half outside a cage. Three dogs were starving to death and the house was littered with animal feces.

Many of the animals taken in abuse and neglect cases have to be euthanized because they are not adopted, others because they are in pain.

The Humane Society does offer animal adoption services at their shelter at 2536 Boutin Drive, just off of Route W in Cape Girardeau.

In order to quell the growing animal population, state law requires that any animal adopted through the Humane Society be either spayed or neutered. About 20 area veterinarians cooperate with the Humane Society to offer spaying and neutering services at a reduced rate.

Those wishing to adopt animals through the Humane Society must fill out a questionnaire that asks basic information about the home into which the animal will be going. If everything checks out, the process takes about one-half hour, Morrison said.

"We want the animal to become part of the family. Our goal is to place the animals in good homes," she said.

Those who cannot adopt a pet may still assist the Humane Society in several ways, Morrison said. Among the things she asked people to do to help is to organize a food drive to get dog and cat food for the animals or a paper drive to collect old newspapers used to line the cat cages.

Others may wish to volunteer time and services at the shelter or distribute Humane Society literature at local events, Morrison said.

Those interested in assisting the Humane Society may contact Cynthia Kothe, development coordinator, at 334-2936 or 243-7872.

The Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Adoptions stop one-half hour before closing.