Response to Herald Journal Article
Mon Sep 17, 2012
Herald Journal
I just wanted to make a few clarifications to the story that was printed in Sunday's paper regarding Whitey. I am sure that many people have been left with numerous questions after reading the article.
First, rabies tags are not a form of identification for animals. There is no national database in which a rabies tag number can be looked up. Generally, when a rabies vaccine is given, the associated tag will have contact information on it for the facility that gave the vaccine. When this is the case, the facility can then be contacted and they can call the owner and let them know where their animal is. This was not the case with Whitey. His tag was generic and only supplied the tag number and the year. Without calling every shelter and veterinary clinic, the tag could not be traced. This is why it is important to register your animal where you live and make sure the tag is always on them, or more ideally, have them micro chipped, which is a lifelong form of identification and can not be lost. All animal control officers in the Cache County scan all stray animals with a universal micro chip reader, and any animals brought to the Cache Humane Society Shelter are also be scanned.
Whenever someone brings a stray animal they have found to the shelter, we immediately have them talk to animal control for the area in which they found the dog. It is then up to the animal control officer as to whether they are going to impound the animal at the Cache Humane Society. Each agency has different protocol. When they impound an animal with us, they are essentially paying us to board the animal for the mandated five day impound period. If an animal is not claimed at the end of the five days, we then take responsibility for the animal. At this point, we give the animal a physical, give it its vaccines and then do our best to find it a home.
State law does allow for an exclusion to the five day impound period, if the animal is in pain. This is the route that the animal control officer went with Whitey. Based upon the condition Whitey was in when he came to the shelter, the animal control officer made this decision and requested our staff to assist him with the procedure. The decision was made by animal control, who at that point had responsibility for the animal. Two of our staff members were with the animal control officer when the decision was made. They have provided him with statements for his case as to Whitey's condition and concurred with his assessment.
The staff at the Cache Humane Society are professionals who are trained to give vaccines, implant microchips, and yes, perform euthansias. As I am sure most people understand, this is not something that our staff enjoys doing. However, it is a reality when animals are injured or there are more animals then there are homes and funding for. I am thankful every day for our staff who continually and professionally work with a small budget, believing that their actions make a difference for animals that would not have a place to go if our shelter did not exist. This is why we advocate that everyone get their animals spayed and neutered and make sure they are wearing proper identification.
Please feel free to visit our shelter and meet out staff. I would be more than happy to sit down with anyone and explain our mission, programs and animal save rates.
Sincerely,
Brenda K. Smith
Executive Director
I just wanted to make a few clarifications to the story that was printed in Sunday's paper regarding Whitey. I am sure that many people have been left with numerous questions after reading the article.
First, rabies tags are not a form of identification for animals. There is no national database in which a rabies tag number can be looked up. Generally, when a rabies vaccine is given, the associated tag will have contact information on it for the facility that gave the vaccine. When this is the case, the facility can then be contacted and they can call the owner and let them know where their animal is. This was not the case with Whitey. His tag was generic and only supplied the tag number and the year. Without calling every shelter and veterinary clinic, the tag could not be traced. This is why it is important to register your animal where you live and make sure the tag is always on them, or more ideally, have them micro chipped, which is a lifelong form of identification and can not be lost. All animal control officers in the Cache County scan all stray animals with a universal micro chip reader, and any animals brought to the Cache Humane Society Shelter are also be scanned.
Whenever someone brings a stray animal they have found to the shelter, we immediately have them talk to animal control for the area in which they found the dog. It is then up to the animal control officer as to whether they are going to impound the animal at the Cache Humane Society. Each agency has different protocol. When they impound an animal with us, they are essentially paying us to board the animal for the mandated five day impound period. If an animal is not claimed at the end of the five days, we then take responsibility for the animal. At this point, we give the animal a physical, give it its vaccines and then do our best to find it a home.
State law does allow for an exclusion to the five day impound period, if the animal is in pain. This is the route that the animal control officer went with Whitey. Based upon the condition Whitey was in when he came to the shelter, the animal control officer made this decision and requested our staff to assist him with the procedure. The decision was made by animal control, who at that point had responsibility for the animal. Two of our staff members were with the animal control officer when the decision was made. They have provided him with statements for his case as to Whitey's condition and concurred with his assessment.
The staff at the Cache Humane Society are professionals who are trained to give vaccines, implant microchips, and yes, perform euthansias. As I am sure most people understand, this is not something that our staff enjoys doing. However, it is a reality when animals are injured or there are more animals then there are homes and funding for. I am thankful every day for our staff who continually and professionally work with a small budget, believing that their actions make a difference for animals that would not have a place to go if our shelter did not exist. This is why we advocate that everyone get their animals spayed and neutered and make sure they are wearing proper identification.
Please feel free to visit our shelter and meet out staff. I would be more than happy to sit down with anyone and explain our mission, programs and animal save rates.
Sincerely,
Brenda K. Smith
Executive Director