COMMERCE - The plea for help at animal shelters extends beyond the Metroplex, says Commerce Humane Association/Frank Barchard Memorial Animal Shelter President Jodi McIntier.
In an email Monday, McIntier said the publicity surrounding such crises, like the near euthanization of dozens of dogs in Fort Worth, causes “people to flock to that shelter and leave their local shelter in trouble.”
She notes that Commerce and Greenville shelters fill to capacity several times a week.
“I don’t see the media out here trying to save the animals in those shelters.”
The Frank Barchard Memorial Animal Shelter, a no-kill shelter based in Wolfe City, has a maximum capacity of 300 animals. Volunteers try to keep the count around 100 in case there’s a large influx within a short period of time.
In a May interview with KETR, McIntier said that the seemingly endless challenge to overpopulation at animal shelters is due to owners not spaying or neutering their pets like they should.
“So come early spring, every shelter is faced with a tremendous burden of what to do with all these unwanted babies that we’ve gone out and produced because we’re not responsible for our own pets.”
Other owners may be willing to bring their dog or cat to a shelter because they can no longer afford a pet, to which McIntier stresses, “when you take that pet on you’re taking on the responsibility for the whole life of the pet.”
If you cannot help by adopting a pet locally, the Frank Barchard Memorial Animal Shelter could use your time.
McIntier added in her email Monday :
“We need people that can build, groom, bathe dogs, rake, clean, etc. We need people that can tell our story on Facebook. We need someone who can do our web page.”
Monetary donations can also be made. More information is available at 903-496-2412 or by emailing commercepets@yahoo.com.
The shelter reminds citizens that Cause for Paws will again be conducting a mobile adoption Saturday at 4400 Moulton Street in Greenville. All pets will be altered, vaccinated, microchipped and come with 30 days free insurance. Adoption fee for this event will be $15.
