THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EUTHANIZED ANIMALS BELONGS TO ALL OF US

A lot of people are angry that the Humane Society kills (euthanizes) animals. Some understand the need. But they don't want to see it, hear it or think about it. And they're content to let the shelter handle the job behind closed doors.

Others think the fact that we euthanize thousands of animals every year means we've failed our goal and that we really don't love animals.

But consider it from our point of view. We see a constant parade of people turning pets in because they don't want them anymore. Want to hear some of the reasons? She was cute as a puppy, but now? We can't take him on vacation with us. Now that the kids are grown, surely you can find him a home. Our landlord doesn't allow pets. I'm tired of changing his litter box. Now that I'm graduating college, I'm moving on. My new spouse hates dogs/cats. We can't afford to have her spayed. But you won't have any trouble finding a home for her eight puppies, because they're so cute.

Many people delude themselves into thinking their animals have a better chance of finding a good home. They ignore the terrible results of their irresponsibility so they can sleep at night. But, despite our best efforts, only one in five pets actually gets adopted. There are simply too many animals and not enough homes.

The majority of animals we handle are strays, brought in by caring people who just happen to find them. Some are well-fed but have no license or ID tag to help us find their home. They sit sadly in our runs for days waiting for their beloved owners who never show up. There are cats so badly hurt by cars that they can't even survive long enough for a chance to be claimed. Some are parasite-infested, skin-and-bone strays that look like no one ever cared whether they lived or died. Others even guard pitiful litters born without a chance for health or a home.

It's hard working for an animal shelter if you love animals. But when you do, sometimes it's even harder to love people. We must all take some responsibility for the problems that force us to kill.

We would rather have people bring animals to us, where we can give them a good, safe chance, rather than have people get rid of them in some other way.

Is a pet better off being euthanized than adopted to a home that doesn't meet all our qualifications? If you were at the shelter and saw the fear, confusion and disbelief of pets rejected by their owners, you'd agree that the painless death is much preferable to being shunted from home to home or being dumped on some remote county road, trying to adjust to new situations, being hit by cars, being eaten by viruses or being attacked by coyotes.

Most dogs and cats are frightened when they first reach the shelter. The noise and confinement make them either frantic or shy. But within a few days they adjust and begin to reach out for what they want the most in life: human attention. Cats meow and pat the air with paws stuck through the bars. Dogs bark, stand on their hind legs with paws and noses shoved through the fence, wagging their tails every time a person comes near them. They're trying desperately to get any passing human to touch them or talk to them.

But they give up after a few more days. As despair sets in, they huddle in the back of their cages and peer sadly at the humans who never stop for them.

They're so eager to please. But there are simply too many of them. The best efforts by our shelter and shelters across the country simply cannot find homes for them. And the problem grows as people who want to experience litters or let their children see the miracle of birth. Or as farmers insist on backup barn cats to keep mice under control. Or as owners let their dogs roam the countryside because it costs too much to fence or fix their pets.

We must all take responsibility for the thousands of deaths at our shelter. And we must all work to prevent the overpopulation problem. That means spaying and neutering your pets and encouraging others to do the same. And that means adopting a pet from the shelter. Please help. Remember, their future is in our hands.

This commentary was drafted and endorsed by Humane Society of Southeast Missouri board members Requi Salter, Ron Johnson, Amy Jacquin, Mike Masterson, Cheryl Mothes and Cheryl Robb-Welch along with staff members Debbie Litzelfelner, Kimberly Peters, Christa Sharp, LeShanda Cradduck, Kelli Stewart, Sue Sample and Lisa Foster.