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The numbers, which a humane society official called “grim,” demonstrate the lack of available homes for unwanted and abandoned pets.
“Although we recognize that we cannot rescue every animal abandoned at our doors,” said shelter board President Rachel Pierce, “we are heartsick over the overwhelming number of healthy, adoptable animals whose lives we are not able to save.”
Pierce said people who leave pets at the shelter are surprised to learn how few get adopted. Since June, only 15 percent have found new homes. The rest were euthanized.
Although the South Gloster Street facility originally was intended to accept unwanted pets from Tupelo and Lee County, the one-story brick shelter takes animals from throughout Northeast Mississippi and Alabama.
It has space for 150 pets – far fewer than the 900 dropped off there every month.
“We do ask that people exhaust all other possibilities of finding animals a home before they bring them here,” said shelter Director Debbie Hood. “But when all else fails, that’s what we’re here for. We don’t want animals roaming around, getting hit by a car and suffering.”
To combat the rise of unwanted pets, the humane society launched a low-cost spay and neuter clinic this year. Both Pierce and Hood said it has been popular, but it hasn’t helped reduce the shelter’s euthanasia or drop-off rates yet.
“Regardless of how grim the statistics,” Pierce said, “we are eager to tell the honest story to the public in hopes that first, they will spay and neuter their own pets and second, will choose to adopt a shelter animal when they look for their next pet.”
Contact Emily Le Coz at (662) 678-1588 or emily.lecoz@djournal.com. Also read her blog, The Government Grind, at NEMS360.com.
At a glance
The Tupelo-Lee Humane Society has accepted more than 1,700 animals since the start of June. Most had to be euthanized.
June
Dogs Cats Total
Taken in 470 390 860
Adopted or rescued 76 42 118
Euthanized 405 371 776
Died in shelter 0 0 0
Reclaimed 13 1 14
July
Dogs Cats Total
Taken in 506 359 865
Adopted or rescued 109 52 161
Euthanized 392 307 699
Died in shelter 5 4 9
Reclaimed 15 1 16
SOURCE: TLHS
Tupelo Lee Humane Society has opened a low-cost-high quality Spay/Neuter Clinic at 1504 S. Gloster Street. We take appointments only. We are hoping to help lower our euthanasia rates by offering this service to the general public. Our prices are as follows:
Cats:$40.00
Dogs:
* Up to 25 lbs is $50
* 26 lbs-50 lbs is $60
* Over 50 lbs is $70
Please call our clinic phone 662-210- SPAY (7729) or the shelter 662-841-6500 for more information or to schedule an appointment!
You can look at this list and see the amounts it will cost to have your pet(s) fixed. Set up an in house savings account in your underwear drawer and put a little money back in small amounts until you have the money saved up to fix your pets.
If you have multiple pets CALL THEM - TALK TO THEM - see if they can work out a plan that will benefit everyone! The shelter and local vets WANT to help you!
If anyone is interested in donating money to help people spay/neuter their pets let them know, send your donations and tell them specifically you want it to go to a spay/neuter surgery for someone who can not afford it!
The opportunities from this new service are immense, the community needs to get behind it, USE IT and SUPPORT it!
Dogs and puppies are $65
This fee includes a vaccination, worming,
bordetella treatment, spaying/neutering of pet and microchip.
Cats and kittens are $50
This fee includes a vaccination, worming,
bordetella treatment, and spaying/neutering of pet.
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http://www.oxfordpets.com - Oxford Animal Shelter
ogs
$100.00 Fee
Fee Includes:
Spay or Neuter Surgery minimum $75.00 value
rabies vaccination $10.00 value
deworming treatments $20.00 value
first round of vaccinations $35.00 value
first dose of Frontline Flea & Tick $10.00 value
free initial vet exam $25.00 value
canine heartworm testing $20.00 value
Avid Microchip Permanent Identification $50.00 value
2 free months Shelter Care Pet Insurance $15.00 value
ACTUAL TOTAL VALUE
$260.00
Cats
$80.00 Fee
Fee Includes:
Spay or Neuter Surgery minimum $60.00 value
rabies vaccination $10.00 value
deworming treatments $20.00 value
first round of vaccinations $35.00 value
first dose of Frontline Flea & Tick $10.00 value
free initial vet exam $25.00 value
feline leukemia testing $20.00 value
Avid Microchip Permanent Identification $50.00 value
2 free months Shelter Care Pet Insurance $15.00 value
ACTUAL TOTAL VALUE
$245.00
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http://www.cachs.org/ -Corinth Animal Shelter
Adoption Fees
Dogs $70.00
Cats $50.00
Adoption Fee includes spaying/neutering and rabies vaccinations. The dog adoption fee also includes pet microchipping;
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Correct me if I am wrong but I think TLHS seems to be on par with most other "local" shelters. Especially now that (according to this article) the shelter is not supporting JUST Tupelo and Lee County - "the one-story brick shelter takes animals from throughout Northeast Mississippi and Alabama."
Emily, I don't think the fact that people can't afford the fee determines if they can take care of them or not. I was talking to some moms today(one was even at the shelter today looking for a dog) and she was saying how high the fees are. We live in nice houses and drive nice cars but we are stay at home moms with only hubby's salary. Our animals never go unfed and are taken to the vet when needed. I think you are incorrect and the shelter loses a lot of great potential families because of the fees. I understand there are a lot of expenses that go into the animals at the shelter but lowered fees would get more animals adopted.
The only way our shelter will be able to reduce fees and become a no kill shelter is if local people will SPAY AND NEUTER their pets and if more business and individuals will donate REGULARLY to our shelter. More foster homes and people to help transport to rescue groups would be helpful also.
You also have to look at the euthanasia rates not just as statistics - there is a lot that comes into play:
1)The rates will of course be higher during the spring/summer breeding season. More animals means more possibility of being euthanized.
2)The economy is also playing a role right now:
- many people are loosing their jobs and houses, they have no means to take care of their pets... so they go to the shelter.
- People who have less money can not afford to get their pets spayed/neutered or proper medical care...so they go to the shelter. Plus, un-fixed pets means more possibility for new litters being born thus even more animals...it's a viscous cycle.
Personally I respect our shelter more for not hiding the truth and trying to educate people. Sometimes a SHOCK is what gets people up and moving to help,it is unfortunate but it is human nature. I also respect the fact that our shelter seems to be concentrating on the QUALITY over QUANTITY. Pets should go to a quality home where they will be loved and taken care of - I would much rather see that than animals running loose getting hurt and fending for themselves.
The fee, while somewhat high, is actually a good deal considering the pets come with their shots, rabies tag and a spay/neuter operation by a local vet.
The fee, while somewhat high, is actually a good deal considering the pets come with their shots, rabies tag and a spay/neuter operation by a local vet.