Attention Lee County Dog Owners

Published:

Updated:

Although I don't believe in letting dogs run loose, and it's also prohibited by law, sometimes our little friends get away and end up in a local animal shelter.

Make sure you always check immediately for your pet at every shelter in the area.  Don't rely on calling or using the internet.  Go in person to check. They get thousands of animals every month...yes, that's right.  17,000 a year!

I hope it's not too late, but up to 35 dogs will be put down in the next few days because of an upper respiratory virus that has spread throughout the shelter.  Some of these dogs have only been at the shelter for a week.  The Lee County Animal Shelter will not adopt out these dogs, but if you can prove ownership, you can pay for treatment.  My guess is that, if this virus is treatable, the only reason for putting all of these puppies to death must be money.  It's so sad.

Please make sure your dog is secure when you leave your home.  That doesn't mean chaining him to a tree either.  If you live in the area and have lost a pet or know someone who has, please call  (239) 533-7387 or go to leelotspets.com and click on press releases for more information.

I heard this story on the evening news, but never thought of posting it here until I saw this on Craig's List tonight. 

http://fortmyers.craigslist.org/pet/572725797.html

 

I wish I had seen the numbers below before "turning" in a stray cat that was sick last April.  She never committed any crimes.  She just wanted a good home.  I never realized that it was a sure death sentence, but look at this report from Lee County.

By the numbers

Lee County Animals Services for 2006

Animals taken in annually: 16,240

Returned to owner: 1,339

Adopted: 3,417

Euthanized: 10,961

Cost of food: $40,000

Cost of vet care and medicine: $275,000

Source: Lee County Animal Services

Entry #126

Comments

Avatar LOTTOMIKE -
#1
don't forget to pay or neuter all your dogs and pets.
Avatar Tenaj -
#2
In our county and surrounding areas, many healthy adoptable dogs are euthanized because shelters don't have room to house them because of confiscated pit bull dogs that were taken in evidence from dog fighting. They don't euthanize the Pits because they are evidence.

Some dogs share space but not so with the Pits because they have an intolerance for other dogs that is so strong that they kill them. The Pits aren't cleared at a timely matter because the courts are behind.

I don't get that because why don't the police department fund their own evidence and why don't they use the pictures (video) from the crime scene as evidence of the Pits, and have the shelter euthanize the Pits instead of the other dogs and save adoptable animals and the cost to feed and house them. It will solve the problem.

I know you can't just go change laws concerning evidence but a lot of laws are created because the problem was not there before.
Avatar Jake -
#3

Hey JXP: Forgive me, I could not finish reading your post. In fact, I knew basically what it would say before I opened the blog. I'm very glad you said it, I just could not bear to hear it repeated today.   For anyone who reads this important blog message, if you are ever in a position that requires the placement of a cat or dog, you need to do the homework first because, despite the best of intentions, odds are against the animal surviving the transition.   Difficult economic times are falling on more of the population and the family pet just does not have many options - the only thing certain is that any option that brings a positive outcome falls to human hands.
     

Avatar konane -
#4
As Bob Barker always said "Help control the pet population, have your pets neutered or spayed." That movement has been around since the '70's and it's a pity so many unwanteds end up being put to death.

In Communist China several years back dog ownership was prohibited and all were seized and killed by authorities. Recently a similar situation took place during a rabies epidemic where even animals which had been vaccinated and owners had certificates were seized and beaten to death in the streets by authorities.
Avatar justxploring -
#5
I don't want to judge them, because I know there are very nice people who work at shelters and try their best to get the pets adopted out, but I just don't see how they can do their jobs. A couple of months ago a beautiful black lab was found with a broken leg and they were going to euthanize him at the Lee County Shelter. They just don't have enough money. So the Collier County Animal League rescued him. There are a few happy endings like this one.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/nov/24/abandoned_broken_and_against_odds/

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