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Non-Profit Partners
University of Houston
KPFT 90.1-FM
HMS Cable-Access Ch. 17
Alternatives to the Pound:
Houston SPCA
www.spcahouston.org
713-869-7722
Houston Humane Society
www.houstonhumane.org
713-433-6421
Citizens for Animal Protection
www.cap4pets.org
281-497-0591
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environment, pollution & animal rights
On Monday, a man delivered a friend he no longer wanted to the Houston pound. The five-year-old black and brown dog was emaciated and covered with engorged ticks. The owner didn’t indicate his name on the admission form. He will be called "Hapless" here.
Despite his deteriorated condition, Hapless wagged his tail enthusiastically as a veterinary technician led him into the medical room. He didn’t bark or growl, just huffed happily, excited to be around people and to be receiving some human contact.
It was obvious to the pound staff that he’d been underfed and neglected, although they weren’t sure whether an ailment like heartworm, a preventable disease, or cancer contributed to his state.
But whether he had a serious illness or not was of little consequence, since his owner had indicated on the admission form that he wanted the animal euthanized.
Chances are this friendly canine wouldn’t have had been granted a second chance at life, anyway, since the facility only sees about six percent of the animals it takes in go to new homes. Dr. John Nix, the pound’s director, said about forty other dogs and cats had been euthanized in that room earlier in the day.
"The problem is totally irresponsible pet owners," Nix said. "We have a system of disposable pets."
The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which last year took in more than twice as many animals as the pound, blames city cutbacks for overcrowding at its shelter. A policy change the non-profit announced last month will start shifting more of the stray animal burden back to the city.
Other shelters and welfare organizations have been critical of the HSPCA’s decision to turn stray animals over to the pound, reasoning that more animals will die as a result.
But Sean Hawkins, chief executive officer of the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), says most of those stray animals would have been euthanized anyway and that it is better to let the pound do the destroying, so the non-profit organizations can concentrate on caring for and adopting out animals.
Another motivation for the new policy is to force lawmakers to face the problem of pet overpopulation; the groups hope to see additional government support for spay and neutering programs and anti-breeding laws. Government and private shelters agree that widespread sterilization would produce a dramatic reduction in the number of unwanted companion animals.
But Nix and Kathy Barton, spokeswoman for the city's Health and Human Services Department, have spoken out against programs like trap-neuter-release, an all-volunteer effort to sterilize feral cats and secure their continued care. Nix and Barton say it is more humane for the cats to be killed by veterinarians or their staff.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, one cat and her young can theoretically produce 420,000 kittens within seven years, while one female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies.
In many cities, breeding dogs or cats is illegal and sterilization of pets is required. In Houston, however, there are no such laws. Even animals that were loose and picked up by animal control can be reclaimed by their owners without being sterilized.
"I think it would be absolutely wonderful to have a breeding ban," Nix said. "I can't think of any other way better to decrease the population. I think you would have a problem enforcing it though."
Nix says that due to budget cuts and hiring freezes, he’s lost six animal control officers this year. In addition to picking up fewer animals, the lack of money and staff may be affecting the care the impounded animals receive.
On Monday, there were puppies lying on newspaper soaked with urine or dumped-over water bowls; one was lying in fecal matter. Another had no water; instead her tin bowl contained her vomit. One tiny terrier had very little hair, what little he did have had prickly round seeds entwined in it, and he trembled incessantly. Twelve of the “adoptable” puppies were lucky enough to be outside in the warm sun, but they panted thirstily over dry water bowls. Also outside, four rabbits were in a hutch with neither food nor water. One appeared to have chemical burns in and around her eyes.
Pit bulls and pit bull-mixes account for about a quarter of the dogs at the pound. Dog fighting is rampant in Houston, and Nix says pit bulls have become a status symbol in many neighborhoods. Many have visible scars. The ears of one pit bull have been jaggedly cut almost completely off, a sure sign he was intended for use in fights.
Inducing dogs to fight for profit is a felony in Texas; raising dogs for such fighting or attending events is a misdemeanor.
Nix says animals are killed at the pound not only because of overpopulation, but often because they have been neglected to the point that they are not suitable for adoption. Heartworm disease, which is preventable through medication, is one of the most common ailments in dogs brought to the Houston pound, and because it is costly to treat, afflicted dogs are not put up for adoption. Likewise, dogs with mange and other common and curable external maladies will usually be destroyed after the standard 72-hour holding period.
Nix said he would not pursue legal action against the nameless dog’s owner, who surrendered him for euthanasia, explaining that cruelty to animals is very narrowly defined in Texas law, and it would have to be proven that the owner “knowing failed unreasonably to provide necessary food,” which brings up the question: when is it reasonable to starve an animal? This and most instances of animal cruelty are misdemeanor offenses.
Even with the help of another staff member, the veterinary technician had a difficult time administering the deadly blue serum into skinny, kindly Hapless because of his frightened, excited wiggling. When he finally stuck the needle into his vein, the blue liquid quickly disappeared into Hapless’s bloodstream. Hapless appeared relieved that his shot was over. He seemed to smile as he wagged his tail again at the strangers who didn’t even know his name. But then, in an instant, the smile disappeared from his face and his active body went limp in the strange man’s arms. And, all at once, Hapless was dead.
More than 100,000 equally hapless animals were admitted to Houston’s government-run and privately operated shelters in 2003. Most of them were destroyed. Nationwide, the HSUS estimates that about three million to four million animals are killed in shelters yearly. It seems that, based on our population, Houstonians are killing more than twice as many pets as the national average.
Animals can be adopted from the pound for a fee $35, which includes shots and spay and neutering. SNAP has a mobile clinic and provides free services to those who meet income qualifications. SNAP offers low cost sterilization services as well.
© Copyright World Internet News 2006-07
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environment, pollution & animal rights
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For more information on the Houston Pound and other animal issues, please go to:
www.insolidaritywithanimals.com/
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