Life is ever changing, sometimes throwing you too much to handle at once.
Unfortunately, the pets in our life sometimes take the brunt of it. In the panic of what to do, people will tend to do things for the right reason but not in the right way. Case in point; there has been a wave of people trying to rehome or sell their pets by any means they can. The latest trend is “I need (x amount) of money or the animal will be put down.” As much as this upset me more than you know, we are seeing more of this “hostage” situation. It is this that has prompted me to write this and hopefully bring some clarity on what can and can’t be done.
First and foremost, we need to look at the whole picture of things and stay calm about them. Social media can be a blessing and a curse. Keeping one’s feelings in check as we sit behind our computer screens is hard.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: See the Hays Post story about a recent local pet dog rehoming death threat on social media.)
The priority is to make sure that the animal is safe and is going to the best situation it can. There are more agencies and people in Hays there are here to help than you think.
The Humane Society of The High Plains is a good place to start. Keep in mind, it is a non-profit no kill shelter which means it’s going to be full most of the time. They run strictly on donations and fundraisers. Betty (Hansen) has worked there for many years and has brought the Humane Society to be a no kill shelter. No kill means that an animal will stay there until it is adopted. Also understand, if an animal is picked up by Animal Control and it is deemed too sick or injured, yes, an animal will be humanly be euthanized.
As much as we would all like, we can’t save them all.
The Humane Society will put you on a waiting list if they are full and will get back to you when they can take your pet. There is a small fee of $25 to surrender your pet. This is to help defer their expenses. They are also there to help with food for people who are in need. We all fall on hard times and just need a little help to make it through the month. If they are not able to take your pet in, they may have people on their list of volunteers that can help. Remember, they can only help so much if they are full and kindness goes along ways.
The veterinarian clinics are another useful place to contact. Remember, they are not an intake facility but, in some cases, they do have a list of rescues or contacts of people that can help. They are a great source of information.
There are several reputable rescues in this area. Most rescues try to concentrate on abused and death row animals and all of them are nonprofit organizations and rely on volunteers and foster homes. Being this type of organization, they are also extremely full.
There is also a handful of people in Hays that are also willing to help. We are the people that will try to help you keep your pet in the home if we can. Keep in mind, we are doing this out of our own pockets, and we can only do so much. The Humane Society and veterinary clinics have our numbers.
This brings me to the most important point.
A pet is a lifelong commitment. When getting an animal, please take into consideration the cost of that pet. There is the upfront cost of shots and spaying and neutering. All animals in the city limits need to be registered with the city each year. Of course, there are going to be the unexpected events that come up such as illnesses and injuries.
We all want to see every animal find a great home, but we also need to be responsible about it. Check out the people you are surrendering your animal to. We may be a small town but there are people out there that do not have your pet’s best interest at heart.
Also remember, while Animal Control and the Police Department are there to help, there are some things that are beyond their control.
While we may not agree with how some people choose to handle their pets, they are only following the laws that are in place. If you do not agree with the laws or the lack of them, the Humane Society of the United States/Kansas would welcome you to help fight for the rights of animals in Kansas.
If you have a love for animals and would like to help, please contact your local shelter or animal rescue; they are always looking for people to volunteer their time.
Here is a list of agencies that are here to help with properly rehome your pets:
http://www.hshponline.org/?fbclid=IwAR15nsmqKI-loTFdxbAHgM69BFVllHT64f02Ww5-_wbAaNmmhQNJd2mEr-I
https://library.municode.com/ks/hays/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH5AN
For the love of animals,
Lisa VanHorn
Hays
Animal Advocate