Ashe County Humane Society Launching Pet Food Drive

By Joel Frady

As the unemployment rate rises and more Americans are facing the hardships caused by the current

economic crisis, citizens across the nation - and right here in Ashe County - are faced with harder and harder financial decisions. As people try to cut corners, non-essential items are the first to go - and any items related to pets are frequently the first items to go.

"There's been a lot of people in the community that, because of the financial problems that have happened, have had to choose between keeping their animal or not paying their electric bill," said Cathy Allinder, president of the Ashe County Humane Society. To help local citizens and their furry friends, the humane society has announced the launch of a new program to help struggling Ashe County residents.

Allinder said that they have always "kept a small supply" of pet food at the society's office in Jefferson, but they are now able to expand their efforts due to a recent food drive held by Westwood Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Dollar General in West Jefferson. Allinder said the drive was a large success and now, from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, the society is offering to "provide limited pet food" so that pet owners can focus on their bills and still keep their animals fed.

"It's to help tide them over," she said, "but it mat make the difference between people keeping their pets or having to surrender them." She noted that decision can be hard, "especially when there are kids involved.

"-We're hoping that this is going to be a program that we can offer on a regular basis for the community to help people out that are having hard times to help them avoid from making this decision with the animal," she continued. She later noted, "If we can make the difference and have some people that are able to keep their animals -sometimes people just need help for two weeks, depending on how it goes - and if we can make that happen, then it's something that we've done for the people, the community and the animals.

The humane society is asking the rest of the community support the drive, which they hope to offer on a long-term basis, through either food or monetary donations.

"We're looking for dog food, either dry or canned; puppy food, cat food and kitten food," said Allinder. "A lot of times people will bring in dog and cat food and then we're lacking in kitten and puppy food, so if we can get a little bit of everything, that will work out." She noted the drive is only focused on companion animals (cats and dogs) and they will not be able to offer food for other pets such as rabbits, reptiles or farm animals.

The drive comes at a critical time for many, as Allinder said that some people eventually feel that there's no other option but to give up their animals. Many people try to adopt the animals, but Allinder said that others either take the pets to animal control or simply turn them looses and "hope for a Good Samaritan to take them in and give them a good home.

Allinder noted that adopting the animals isn't always a success, either, since "there are more animals needing homes than homes available." Although finding a home comes down to a case-by-case decision, Allinder said that "usually, younger animals are more adoptable.

"We do have people who are specifically looking for puppies so they can start them with the kids and train them the way they want. There's also people who don't want to go through the puppy stage, and they may be looking for an older animal," she continued. "The older ones are a bit harder, but we have had older animals adopted. It just depends on who is coming in to look for them."

The Ashe County Humane Society was started five years ago and currently holds pet adoptions from `10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Allinder said the society is almost entirely run by volunteers, save one part-time employee. but they hope, with support, to offer more programs and start educational programs in the schools.

"We really need help from the community to make this happen," she said. "The more people we have, the more programs we can offer."

Allinder also stressed the importance of pet owners getting their animals spayed and neutered.

"The big thing is to prevent the litters from happening because we're coming up on the time of year that we'll be getting 30 and 40 cats a day on Saturdays and there just aren't enough homes," she said. "It's a simple procedure and it makes a better pet."

She added, "that's where the problem is - people aren't getting it done." The society does offer low-cost vouchers for the procedure that are accepted at a few local veterinary offices.

Allinder also said that the society needs help from anyone willing to foster animals for a short period of time.

"We would be responsible for vaccinations and to get them spayed or neutered," she said. "We would check them out and make sure everything is okay" and can provide crates, food, bedding. She noted that if foster owners can teach animals basic obedience or get them adjusted to children, it "makes them more adoptable.
"The more foster homes we have, the more animals we can help," she said.

The offices of the Ashe County Humane Society are open on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in addition to their Saturday hours. To find out more about the society or any of their programs, call (336) 982-4297, e-mail ashehumane@skybest.com or www.ashehumanesociety.org.