LETTERS: SPECIAL ANIMALS TO GET SPOTLIGHT

To the editor:

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri has a dream: We want every adoptable animal that comes to us to have a home. Right now, we are a long way from that dream. Last year, we accepted 5,438 animals. Of those, only 1,340 were adopted or returned to their owners. That means over 4,000 beautiful, loving dogs and cats had to be put to sleep.

Yes, we admit it. We have to destroy animals. It's not a dirty secret. It's a horrible reality. And, to be honest, it's a reality we won't accept. We hat it for these wonderful animals and for our employees and for the veterinarians who must endure euthanizing them. But we know it is the most humane option at present, given the extreme pet overpopulation in our region.

The board of directors of the Humane Society is committed to doing everything possible to find animals homes and to decrease the number of animals that need homes. To that end, we will launch several new campaigns in the months ahead and will change our "Pet of the Week" program.

To encourage adoptions, the pet featured in the Southeast Missourian each week will be a special animal that we want to promote for adoption. The animal will be offered for adoption at a lower fee: only $10. If the animal needs to be spayed or neutered, the surgery fees would be additional. Applicants for adoption will be required to meet all adoption qualifications, and the first qualified applicant to come to the shelter will be allowed to adopt. We simply are trying to do everything possible to find these excellent companions loving homes. Selecting the animal will be very difficult, because there are so many from which to choose. We wish it were possible to lower the fee for all of our animals, but our continued expenses prohibit it at the present.

We look forward to informing you of opportunities to help in reducing pet overpopulation and increasing adoptions. We are located at 2536 Boutin Road in Cape Girardeau, and our phone number is 334-5837. If you are interested in helping the animals in ways other than adoption, we can definitely use your financial support, your membership in the Humane Society or your time as a volunteer. Please help us to make our dream a reality.

CHERYL A. MOTHES, Officer

Humane Society of Southeast Missouri

Cape Girardeau