By Kimberly Moore
For Weekly Surge
The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. -Mohandas Gandhi
Diminishing jobs combined with a crash-and-burn housing market and skyrocketing food, fuel and energy prices have challenged our war-weary nation throughout the summer months, leaving few unaffected, including our four-legged friends and the folks who care for them. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, approximately 63 percent of U.S. households include a Fido or a Felix. Cats and dogs throughout history have provided loyal companionship, endearing themselves as cherished members of the family. Who doesn't like some soft, furry creature to cuddle up with at night, some innocent soul to protect and dote on?
Cara Gibbs with her favorite cat at the Grand Strand Humane Society. -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
At the same time, being an animal owner is a lot different from being an animal lover. Taking responsibility for the care and feeding of an animal is an undertaking that can challenge both patience and resources. A home foreclosure, an unforeseen illness, the call of active military duty - all can bring about the decision to abandon ownership of a beloved animal companion. A handful of paid staff and an army of dedicated volunteers at Myrtle Beach area animal shelters struggle to care for an increasing amount of abandoned animals, and the summer mating season has produced overwhelming numbers of puppies and kittens left to wander as strays. "We have a good climate here year round, so animals that aren't spayed and neutered just keep breeding and breeding, "says Cara Gibbs, Special Assistant for Events, Membership and Volunteers for the Grand Strand Humane Society.
Along the beaches and throughout Horry County, local Humane Societies face the daunting task of caring for close to 1,500 abandoned, neglected or abused animals captured by animal control officers or brought in by their owners each month throughout the Grand Strand area. Add to that the struggle to maintain public confidence after a rash of high-profile personnel shakeups at local Humane Society offices, and allegations of mismanagement and poor conditions for the animals at the tax-supported facilities.
Dogs beg for attention at the Grand Strand Humane Society. -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
The Humane Societies of the USA is the nation's largest animal protection organization, operating under the belief that a humane and sustainable world for animals also benefits people. The organization receives federal, state and local tax money, in addition to contributions and donations from its 10 million supporters nationwide. The Humane Society acts as a leading advocate for public policy concerning issues of animal restraints and ethical practices within the field of animal research, and for the safe and humane treatment of a variety of species from baby seals to wild horses to slaughterhouse calves. With the support of local animal control, the group enforces existing laws against animal cruelty, exposing outlawed practices, such as puppy mills and dog-fighting rings. In the event that a hurricane rolls onto our shores, the Humane Society is the nation's leading disaster relief agency for animals, providing wildlife rehab centers and mobile vet clinics in addition to direct care at area shelters. On a local level, shelter staff takes in abused, unwanted, neglected and abandoned animals, providing food, shelter and medical care in the hopes of finding the animal a permanent home.
The Grand Strand Humane Society located at 3241 Mr. Joe White Avenue in Myrtle Beach, shelters abandoned and stray animals picked up within the Myrtle Beach city limits. The shelter takes in about 50 animals a week. The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach, located off 2nd Ave South on Bay St, sees similar numbers in its area. Speaking of cases she's seen come through the Myrtle Beach shelter, Gibbs says, "It doesn't help matters with the economy and housing market being what it is, as well as the lack of pet-friendly apartments in the area."
Animals picked up outside the city limits of Myrtle Beach and/or North Myrtle Beach are taken to the Horry County Humane Society, located at 2101 Industrial Park Road, behind the J. Rueben Long Detention Center in Conway. The amount of stray and abandoned animals the facility deals with is staggering. "We get over a thousand animals a month, and 70 percent are brought in as strays," says Executive Director Renee Macklen. "Until you sit here and see them come in, it's hard to fathom just what that number is." The group gets animals seized, some from dog fighting cases, and some from abusive environments. Others are surrendered by their owners. Says Macklen, "For whatever reason, the average person keeps a pet 5-6 years, and then it no longer fits into their lifestyle." Animal welfare advocates urge owners to not allow their pets to run free, where they run the risk of being hurt or killed. For their own protection, free roaming animals picked up by animal control officers are taken to the shelter in the officer's jurisdiction. The Horry County Humane Society receives dozens of calls a week from pet owners looking for animals that wandered off. Macklen emphasizes, "We service all areas of Horry County with the exception of the City of Myrtle Beach and the City of North Myrtle Beach. If they live within the city limits but their pet roams outside of either of those limits, the pet will more than likely be brought to our shelter." The Horry County Humane Society is updating its website, and will be implementing a program that will post pictures of intake animals both on its site and on www.PetFinder.org within 12 - 24 hours of their arrival. Macklen recommends having a picture of your pet for identification purposes. "Often people perceive their pet as one color, breed, or weight and Animal Control Officers and/or our employees may view the animal in a different manner. For example, the colors tan versus beige, a golden retriever mix versus a yellow lab mix; describing a kitten as being 10 lbs when in reality a kitten weighs less than 3 lbs," says Macklen. Having a snapshot of your pet can help you be reunited sooner in the event that it becomes lost or in an emergency, such as a hurricane or other natural disaster.
Å newly adopted puppy waits to be taken to its new home at the Grand Strand Humane Society.. -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
Both Grand Strand and Horry County Humane Societies made local headlines recently due to controversies over the management of the shelters. The Grand Strand shelter in particular has come under fire lately from a handful of former volunteers and shelter workers, as well as the city of Myrtle Beach, with serious allegations of animal mistreatment. In June, a battle over money, management and personnel issues resulted in Myrtle Beach city officials threatening to find someone else to run the shelter. "The Grand Strand Humane Society has extremely caring, devoted and hardworking employees caring for these animals, which makes these allegations all the more hurtful," says Executive Director Pete Bine. "They provide for sick animals, taking them home with them and staying up all night, administering medicine to them. This is not something they are paid to do, nor are they required to do it. They do it because they care." As for issues of finance and spending, Bine says the shelter is suffering from rising costs the same as everyone else. "We operate on the same economy as the general public," he says. Cleaning and maintaining the shelter and providing for its four-legged residents is a daily task. "We care for these animals 365 days a year. Everyday, including weekends and holidays, cages and kennels are cleaned and sanitized; animals are fed and cared for. It takes a lot of staff and a lot of work, and we do our very best with the resources we have available," says Bine.
Despite strained resources and the tremendous number of animals that the Humane Societies care for, recent visits to local shelters found them to be surprisingly clean and tidy, thanks in part to shelter staff and the efforts of dedicated volunteers. Shelters also make good use of participants fulfilling the requirements of court-ordered community service programs. Early every morning, workers and volunteers begin sanitizing cages and floors and scrubbing kennels. Fresh air circulates and the temperature is kept comfortable. Local veterinarians come several days a week, offering their time and service for grooming and care of the animals, as well as offering low-cost spay and neutering and micro chipping programs to the public. All three local shelters have large yards in which volunteers are free to walk and run the dogs, and cats are routinely allowed out of their cages several times a day to lounge on countertops or windowsills. Volunteers mingle with staff members as they answer phones, provide intake services and counsel potential adopters, while back at the kennels, tails wag and ears perk up in anticipation of a treat or a pat on the head.
Two women considering adopting play with a puppy at the Grand Strand Humane Society.. -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
Adam Badani recently moved to the area from Detroit. He is a figure skater who performs internationally, and is featured in the ice skating show at Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach. Despite his busy performing schedule, Badani still makes time to volunteer at the Myrtle Beach Humane Society three days a week. "I've been volunteering with the Humane Society for over five years now," Badoni says. "As long as there are animals without permanent homes, I feel like it's my obligation to help." He walks the dogs, cleans the kennels and helps with feeding. "I give them treats, and of course a lot of TLC, which they really need," he says. Badani has been volunteering at the Grand Strand shelter for four months, and though it is heartbreaking to think of so many animals without homes, Badani says the atmosphere at the shelter is far from depressing. "I enjoy the time I spend here. The staff works very hard, and people are welcome to come and walk the dogs or just visit the animals. " As far as the four-legged residents of the shelter are concerned, they are safe, fed, given medical care and grooming, he says. "You get a connection with the animals. For right now, this is their home," says Badani. Dismissing any negative perceptions that may have arisen from the recent controversies, Badani adds, "Everyone at the shelter is very nice, and the animals are happy and comfortable."
Volunteers are encouraged to come by as often as they are able, but even one day a month helps. Visitors are welcome to come and visit with animals anytime during the shelters hours. Badani encourages people to consider sponsoring a pet. "Everyone can't adopt, everyone can't rescue, but anyone can sponsor an animal." A sponsorship may entail paying for an animal's medical care or feeding, stopping by for a walk or visit, bringing treats and toys, and helping with efforts at finding the animal a good home.
People looking for a good pet need look no further than a shelter animal. Gibbs, through her work at the Grand Strand Humane Society, has seen many wonderful animals find loving homes "A shelter pet is the best pet you could ever have," she says. Grateful and happy at being given a second chance, shelter dogs and cats are loving and faithful, and many are already trained in obedience. In addition, shelter staff offers support to new pet parents by way of how-to information and follow-up care. People considering adoptions are encouraged to take very seriously the commitment they are making, however. Says Gibbs, "Pets are a responsibility and a commitment beyond the month or year when it becomes inconvenient." They are a financial obligation, requiring feeding, grooming and vet care, as well as the investment of time and energy.
Fostering a shelter pet is a good option for people who would like to have an animal, but are not sure they can make the commitment of caring for one 10-12 years, the average lifespan of domestic dogs and cats. A foster pet guardian will take in an animal for a period of several weeks to several months. It might be a liter of kittens taken from their mother too early that need to be bottle fed, or an injured animal recuperating that needs to be given meds and babied. Socialization is an important factor for a dog or cat that has had limited contact with people, and fostering is a way of preparing the animal for adoption.
Area shelters urgently appeal to the community to help bring the number of stray animals down. The World Society for the Protection of Animals estimates that globally there are more than 500 million, of which 75 percent are strays. There are similar numbers of cats. Animals left to roam as strays are susceptible to disease, starvation, traffic accidents, aggressive encounters with other animals and abusive treatment by humans. "In the immortal words of Bob Barker - spay and neuter your pets," says Gibbs. "Spay and neuter programs are vitally important in our attempt to control the animal population."