UNWANTED ANIMALS WIND UP BEING KILLED

For workers at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri, one of the best parts of the job is to place an animal in a loving home. The sight of a puppy or kitty leaving in the arms of a snuggling child is gratifying. Those images of happy adoptions must help workers through the stark realities.

More than 4,500 animals are brought to the shelter each year. About 70 percent of those will not be adopted. They are killed in the shelter's crematorium. It is preferable to a violent death from abuse or neglect or a lingering death from disease or starvation. But it is death all the same.

Across the nation, there is typically a high turnover among animal-shelter workers. Killing healthy, adoptable animals day after day can be emotionally devastating.

Education and caring people are needed to break this cycle of needless death.

This is puppy and kitty season at the Humane Society. Dozens of puppies and kitties are arriving daily. The shelter is looking for good homes for these animals. But pet ownership requires responsibility. The animals must receive adequate food, shelter and medical care.

New owners fill out a brief questionnaire and pledge to have the animal spayed or neutered. The last thing the shelter needs is more puppies and kittens. Part of the donation for the animal will be refunded when the veterinarian performs the procedure.

The Humane Society hopes that more people will spay or neuter their household pets, even those not adopted from the shelter. These are pets that may never have any connection to the Humane Society. But the fact is their offspring may find their way to the shelter.

There are already enough puppies and kittens to go around. Finding homes for household litters reduces the chance those people will go to the shelter to rescue an animal.

Shelter workers no doubt have shocking tales to tell about animal abuse and neglect. Too many people dump animals without a thought. Some are tied up in sacks and thrown into streams. Some people act more like animals than animals. America is becoming a throwaway society, but we must not let animals get caught up in the value debate.

An animal's life is precious. Neglecting or abusing animals is a crime. A pet can provide wonderful rewards and unconditional love. They are faithful, protective, loyal and devoted.

The shelter off Route W is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Consider adopting a pet today. Better yet, make an appointment to have your own animal spayed or neutered.

The pet population is out of control. It is time everyone did his part to stop the cycle that leads to animal abuse, neglect and death.