Week in Review - July 19th through July 25th

Monday, July 20^th, a letter to the editor was published in the Athens News that I would encourage anyone and everyone to read. It is about the care and return of abused animals to their owners, and a situation that I, personally, went through that was even more rough to come to terms with.

In similar news, three new kittens were found abandoned this week in Nelsonville. Abandoned is, of course, the polite way of stating it as they had to be pulled from the Hocking River. Luke, a male orange tabby, Leia, a female dilute calico with the most gorgeous orange patches, and Bea, a gray tabby female who all look to be about 7-8 weeks old were found this past week. They’ve all been given a good cleaning and once over, have been de-wormed and de-flea’d, and are being fed and housed, but are still outdoor cats at the moment.

The life of an outdoor cat is not one that I would recommend for anyone, if they can help it. It’s dangerous, especially for tiny kittens who don’t know well enough about the perils of the world. They can climb under car hoods to seek shelter from the heat of the day, run into the road and get hit by cars, be carried off by wild animals or destroyed by domestic pets that are not properly trained or controlled. Bea has been missing for two days, and it’s worrisome. Luke and Leia, however, have been very social with all those they come in contact with. They play together, as well as with other cats at the apartment complex they are being held at. They tolerate gentle large dogs quite well, and are very loving towards people.

It’s no doubt in my mind that Luke and Leia, as well as Bea, are littermates who were dumped by some unfortunate soul who felt that it was their only option. I would like to encourage readers to keep an eye out in their neighborhood. Spring is a particularly rough time of year for people and their animals. Let your neighbors know about our low-cost spay and neuter clinics and the other services we offer. Perhaps even lend them a helping hand if they have an accidental litter that they don’t know what to do with. No animal should ever have to be dumped unceremoniously alongside the road, in the river, or worse.

The Athens County Humane Society is a completely volunteer organization. The economy is tough on everyone right now, and people may think they have no option but to get rid of their animals. The ACHS understands tight funding – we’re a non-profit organization that relies solely on fundraising, donations, and membership fees. But we try to help as much as we can, and often our volunteers go above and beyond the call of duty to help an animal or owner in need.The Humane Society of the United States has even had to suspend their financial aid program to help keep pets and families together, however they still offer some tips for cutting the costs of pet ownership.

This week was not all bad, however! The Athens County Humane Society attended Allen Pet Clinic’s anniversary party on Friday, July 27^th. T-shirts were available, as well as literature and cats for adoption. I myself volunteered for two hours, and found that it was interesting to see the number of people who did not know what kind of services we offered, or that we even existed! Many people had misconceptions about the organization, which were cleared up. It was a bittersweet event for me, hearing the stories of people and their animals, which they had brought with them.Most of the animals had been rescued or adopted, while others spoke of animals long past who had met a bitter end due to cruelty on behalf of their neighbors, friends, or even family. It was wonderful to see so many people take an interest, no matter how hesitant they were.

July 25^th was our adoption event at the Market on State Street. I did not attend, but I’m sure it was a blast, and I’m certain many more people had a chance to witness the wonderful animals that we have for adoption, as well as learn a little bit more about our organization. Hopefully some of our wonderful friends found homes, and I will update a bit later on that.

I also had the opportunity to attend a local music festival, Diamond Music Fest, set up by Nick Collura of Insea Sound Shop of Nelsonville. The event, held at Lake Logan, was a wonderful time to get to know some of the people in the overall larger Southeastern Ohio area. I met a good many people from Athens County, and a good many people who just "got" the concept of what's going on and what we're trying to do. It was a good way to get the word out and, since it was a dog friendly event, meet some pooches who were rescued or adopted and are now leading happy, healthy lives.

Also, don’t forget, coming up on August 6^th is our register and pre-pay session for the spay and neuter clinics. We can accept CASH ONLY, unfortunately, so bring that, as well as an ID with a street address in Athens County. If you are applying for low-cost assistance, bring photocopied proof that you qualify. A list of acceptable documents can be found on our website. For low-cost help, the name on the ID must match the name on the documentation. Prices can also be found on our website. The prepay session is, again, AUGUST 6^th from 5-6 PM at the Market on State Street (formerly the University Mall, the building with Elder Beerman’s, Claire’s, and Tractor Supply).

If you’re wondering why spaying and neutering is such a big deal, check out this information.