Once again, with their unwavering dedication, our incredible animal shelter staff poured their hearts and souls into caring for the animals in their custody during April, May, and June 2024. Their efforts led to 128 animals finding forever homes through our shelter during the second quarter, exceeding the first quarter’s 108 adoptions. This brings the total number of adoptions for the first six months of 2024 to 236 animals. The second- quarter adoptions included 84 canines comprising 47 adult dogs and 37 puppies up to five months old. Our community adopted 44 felines, including 25 adult cats and 19 kittens. We are proud of our shelter team’s hard work and commitment, and they deserve our unwavering support and respect.
Euthanasia statistics
Unfortunately, I must report sad statistics as well. Our shelter team, despite their best efforts, had to euthanize 174 dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens during the second quarter. These 174 euthanized animals consisted of 90 adult dogs, 27 puppies up to 5 months old, 49 adult cats, and eight kittens up to 5 months old.
As I previously reported, the Lowndes County Animal Shelter euthanized 184 animals during the first quarter, totaling 358 animals during the first six months of 2024. These numbers are not just statistics but represent the loss of innocent lives, and it is a situation that we can and must change. As sad as these numbers are, this is considerably lower than the early and mid-2000s when there was an extremely high probability that an animal entering our shelter would be euthanized.
As I previously reported, the Lowndes County Animal Shelter euthanized 184 animals during the first quarter, totaling 358 animals during the first six months of 2024. These numbers are not just statistics but represent the loss of innocent lives, and it is a situation that we can and must change. As sad as these numbers are, this is considerably lower than the early and mid-2000s when there was an extremely high probability that an animal entering our shelter would be euthanized.
With 174 animals euthanized and 128 adoptions through the shelter during the second quarter, we killed 46 more animals than we saved through our shelter. During the first quarter, with 184 animals euthanized and 108 adoptions, we also killed 76 more animals than were adopted. For the first six months, with 358 animals euthanized and 236 adoptions, our shelter killed 122 more animals than were adopted through our shelter.
The shelter staff are dedicated individuals who deserve our unwavering support and respect. They do not take pleasure in euthanizing animals. Still, it is necessary to act until our community unites to establish and enforce animal welfare laws that our county leaders and citizens can endorse. The current situation, with more animals being euthanized than adopted, is disheartening. But it is within our power to change it. As a community, we must encourage adoption rather than purchasing, which only encourages the unregulated breeding of animals. We must provide more significant support for our nonprofit organizations. Most of all, we must take responsibility and push for implementing stricter animal welfare laws in Lowndes County. This is a call to action for our Lowndes County Commissioners, and we need your support to make a difference.
Owner requested euthanasia
Another sad statistic is the 213 animals that were euthanized during the second quarter at the owners’ request. Eighty-eight were adult dogs, 27 were puppies up to 5 months old, 26 were adult cats, and 17 were kittens up to 5 months old. During the first quarter, 54 canines and 11 felines, totaling 65 animals, were euthanized at the request of their owners. Thus, 278 animals were euthanized at the request of their owners during the first six months of 2024. It is my view, and many in animal rescue, that when you bring an animal into your home, that relationship does not end until it crosses the Rainbow Bridge. Events such as a loss of a job, relocation to a property that does not accept pets, marriage, and the like do not excuse anyone from maintaining responsibility for the health and welfare of that animal.
If you love your furry friend, veterinarians ask that you remain with it when it is euthanized. That animal should never be discarded like a piece of trash. Animals are sentient creatures. This means they have a range of emotions that deserve to be respected. If your animal loved you, then love that animal enough to be with it when its life comes to a necessary conclusion. I understand that there is no room in the current shelter building for owners to be present when their animals are euthanized; however, I hope this can be factored into the plans for our new animal shelter.
This may be necessary, but I feel sorry for those animals and their owners. I have been with one cat and two dogs of my own when they were euthanized, and it was most unpleasant. Still, my responsibility was to be present during these difficult end-of-life moments.
I encourage the community to find homes for their animals and not to turn them into shelters if circumstances require giving up animals. With increasingly high homeownership and rent expenses, including insurance, high property taxes, increasingly expensive electricity, and ongoing expenditures for maintenance, I susp many people do not have the financial wherewithal to own animals. I have frequently spoken about the need to give property tax relief to senior citizens, but I have not yet seen any action of consequence from our government leaders.
Some good news
In addition to our shelter team, our animal welfare heroes during the second quarter are the Humane Society of Valdosta/Lowndes County, United Saving Animals Rescue Team, commonly referred to as USA Rescue, Kathy Yert’s Paws Furever Homes, and Pixel’s Posse, Inc., dba The Pixel Fund.
Our top three animal rescue groups are once again performing remarkable volunteer services for our community. All animal rescue groups are appreciated as every animal pulled opens a space for another animal in need and at risk of euthanasia.
During the second quarter, the Humane Society of Valdosta and Lowndes County pulled 52 cats, 219 kittens, 41 dogs, and 29 puppies, totaling 341 animals. In second place was the United Saving Animals Rescue Team, which pulled 29 dogs and 11 puppies, totaling 40 animals during the same period. In third place was Kathy Yert’s Paws Furever Homes, which pulled eight cats and seven kittens, totaling 15 animals. Pixel’s Posse, Inc. pulled one dog. These nonprofit organizations deserve your financial support.
I appreciate the efforts of our community, which is integral to the success of our animal shelter at Lowndes County Animal Shelter, 337 Gil Harbin Industrial Blvd, Valdosta, GA 31601. Our shelter’s website is www.Lowndes County.com, and the telephone number is (229) 671-2760. Every animal you adopt saves two lives: the one you adopt and the one you make room for, so please do not be shy about adopting. You will feel better about yourself when you bring a lovely animal that you saved from euthanasia into your home.
Lowndes County officials provided me with statistics in response to an Open Records Act Request inquiring about our Animal Shelter’s statistics for the second quarter of 2024. I appreciate Shelter Director Linda Patelski cooperating with me and providing me with the requested information promptly and professionally.
Kudos and suggestions
I congratulate the Lowndes County Animal Shelter team and volunteers for being more visible on Facebook. I have wanted our shelter animals to be more visible on Facebook for some time, so this is a positive development. When I see posts about animals, I often share them with my nearly 5,000 Facebook page members and many followers.
One gentle suggestion for our shelter team is that I would like to see them transport animals to various business sites such as PetSmart, Tractor Supply, and elsewhere, just as the nonprofit volunteer organizations do. The taxpayers of Lowndes County pay more than $1,000,000 per year for animal rescue, with most of this expenditure for shelter personnel salaries.
I would like to see animals moved to the public shops and under the direction of staff. I envision an ongoing, busy activity involving county employees and volunteers working closely together. People are much more likely to adopt animals if they can see and hold those animals where they shop.
I would also like to see Lowndes County providing grants to nonprofit animal rescue organizations. Lowndes County does not support our animal rescue organizations, which is a needed change. I would also like to see Lowndes County actively honoring community volunteers who support animal rescue efforts. The maxim, “Where there is a will, there is a way, and if there is no will, then there will be no way,” is true in government, just as in other sectors.
Charles DeVane’s passing
The animal rescue community lost a champion in Mr. Charles DeVane, who passed away on June 30, 2024. Last year, on March 23, 2023, the Burton Fletcher Foundation for Animals honored Charles with the Charles DeVane Award. Chairman Bill Slaughter and the Lowndes County Commissioners also honored Charles with a Proclamation recognizing his lifelong service. I was honored to call Mr. DeVane my friend and, indeed, my hero, and the hero of many who knew and appreciated his remarkable work and generosity in animal rescue.
I conclude with a few messages shared by my Facebook Friends: “Rescue the mistreated, save the injured, and love the abandoned.” “Blessed are the animal rescuers. They have fallen in love a thousand times. While their wallets may constantly be empty, their hearts are always full.”
Burton Fletcher, JD, MBA is the president, founder, and executive director of the Burton Fletcher Foundation for Animals, Inc., www.Burton FletcherFoundation.org, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for the animals and staff at the Lowndes County Animal Shelter and serves as an educator to promote spaying, neutering, microchipping, fostering, adoption, volunteering, and donating to animal rescue organizations. Contact him at Burton@Burton FletcherFoundation.org.
No comment yet, add your voice below!