A lot of people in Sabine Parish are pet lovers but what happens when you let your dogs and cats run loose? They get hit by cars, have litters of unwanted kittens and puppies, and sometimes end up in the animal shelter where they are euthanized if they are not adopted or transferred out to another rescue agency.
The Town of Many now has two state-licensed Animal Control officers who have picked up 16 dogs and 14 cats since August this year, but they can only work within the Town’s limits. “I hate this part of my job”, said Cecil Jordan, Town of Many Street employee who helps with animal control. “Why do people have animals then let them run loose to get killed on the road or waste away tied up in the yard without food and shelter? It just does not make any sense,” he said sadly.
There were 320 stray dogs and cats from Sabine Parish brought to the Animal Shelter this year. Eighty-one dogs and 7 cats were seized from owners for different reasons and 188 dogs and cats were euthanized. Sadly, only 34 dogs and 24 cats were adopted this year, which is 26 less than last year at this time. What does this mean? It means 86% of animals brought to the shelter in 2021, were not adopted, not reclaimed, and ended up being euthanized because their owners did not take responsibility for them.
Being a responsible pet owner is more than just providing food, water, and shelter for your dog or cat. They need healthcare, they need shots, they need to be spayed and neutered to prevent pet over-population. Spaying and neutering your dogs and cats is the only way to prevent unwanted litters of animals that don’t get adopted.
“I’ve adopted both a cat and dog from the local Animal Shelter”, said Florien resident Suzanne Williams, who also works for the Town of Many. “I adopted Sadie May, an 8-year-old female German shepherd dog, at the end of October, and she only weighed 50 pounds when I brought her home. She’s almost 65 pounds now but is still considered to be too thin for her size.” Williams knew when she adopted Sadie May that she had heartworms but being a loving and responsible pet owner, she gladly took a dog that nobody else wanted and gave her a new chance at life. Sadie is being treated for heartworms now. “Even if she only lives a few more years because of her age and health issues, at least Sadie May will know she is loved by her family, both humans and the other cats and dog in the house”, Williams added.
If you see dogs tied up without food and shelter within Many city limits, call City Hall at 256-3651 and report it. The Animal Control officers will do their best to humanely capture the animal and take it to the Shelter where it may be given a new lease on life. “Most of the animals I have owned and loved in my life have been rescues. They make the best pets when you take good care of them. Every dog and cat I’ve had, know they are loved and they give me back that love unconditionally. If I believed in reincarnation, I would want to come back as a dog living in my house,” Williams added.
The Sabine Parish Animal Shelter is always in need of items such as blankets, towels, Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, Febreze Pet Odor Eliminator, liquid, gallon storage bags, Milk Bone dog treats and cat treats. Of course, donations of money are always welcomed. Go to their website at http://sabinehumanesociety.com/ to donate or adopt a pet.