LETTER: More needs to be done at shelter

From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Letter to the Editor
By CAROLYN KLOTZBAUGH

Aiken County has a severe problem with the number of surrendered and stray animals who end up at the county shelter. Last year, the Aiken County took in 5,400 unwanted animals they it is required by law to care for and house. Most of the animals were adoptable, most were euthanized.

There is no single answer to this overwhelming problem. It needs to be a multi-pronged approach that tackles the problem on many levels.

The County must quickly start the new shelter project. Today, healthy, adoptable animals brought in to the shelter get sick because of disease ridden air, overcrowding and improper waste management. Not every animal can be saved, but the shelter must deal with an enormous number every day who need to be accounted for and humanely treated. The critical issue is providing adequate and humane housing.

An adequate shelter also must provide a positive environment for people who want to come and adopt. The smell, the noise and the overall depressing, overcrowded conditions keep most people away.

Everyone recognizes that spay and neuter is the long-term answer to the overpopulation population. State and county-wide programs must both educate and encourage people to take responsibility for their pets. The County budgets $30,000 a year to provide affordable spay and neuter services, but this cannot meet the demand. Think of the possibilities if concerned citizens would engage with the private sector to raise money for spay and neuter.