Animal Shelter Needs Your Help
This week at the shelter we released a very sweet and friendly cat from rabies quarantine (RQ) after a bite incident. She delivered her seven healthy babies while in RQ. Momma Myrtle and babies are all doing well and moved to foster after the state mandated 10-day quarantine. This is the beginning of hundreds of felines that will enter our care over the course of 2024. Right now, we are coordinating the rescue of 40 cats from one area. In 2023 we cared for 848 cats and kittens, 570 of those came in as strays. In June/July we took in 240 felines, in July through October, we had over 80 kittens in foster care.
We have 35 dogs in our care, including one in RQ. This is an owned pet and without a current rabies vaccine The State of Texas requires a 10day observation. We’ve already taken in four litters of puppies this year, and again it’s just the beginning of the overwhelming numbers that will pour into our community animal shelter over the next several months. We know of two expecting momma dogs that will come in with their litters when weaned. In 2023 we cared for 748 dogs and puppies, 462 of those came in as strays and in January alone we took in 82 canines. We have worked tirelessly to save 97% of these seemingly unwanted lives in our community.
We are proud of what we’ve accomplished in four short years of life-saving efforts. With your support, we will continue to take care of these sweet little lives until we find a new forever homes or rescue transport to save their lives. But how do make a dent in the number of unwanted dogs and cats in Fayette County? How do we shift the mindset from “it’s just an animal” to one of “it’s my responsibility to take care of the animal.” How in the world do we continue to take in 1,500 (avg.) dogs and cats year after year? Where will we be as a community if unvaccinated, unsterilized dogs and cats are left to roam, reproduce, and fend for themselves? We don’t have a shelter because we want to take care of dogs and cats. Of course, we’re all animal lovers and are committed to helping the voiceless; but the shelter provides an essential service to Fayette County and the municipalities. We are doing everything we can, every day, to help control the population.
Animal welfare organizations all over the country are bursting with unwanted dogs and cats. Adoption rates, especially for dogs, are down 3050% and euthanasia rates are rising every day. Think of it this way: we have 35 dogs today two are adopted and three transfer out to a rescue that leaves 30 and four new dogs come in, we’re back up to 34. Tomorrow, there are no adoptions and no transfers, and four adult dogs and two litters of five puppies each come in, and the cycle continues, every day.
We are grateful for every donor, volunteer, foster, transporter and share on social media. It all counts and forwards this mission. How do we as a community effect change in the number of unwanted dogs and cats in Fayette County? In 2024 we’ve already taken in 219 dogs and cats. This is a community problem that requires a community solution. We need your help. Please do your part to ensure your family pets are contained, vaccinated, sterilized, and always a beloved family member.