Pets discarded in fall, winter, official says

CELINA - Local animal rescue organizations are looking for extra help this time of year.

"More and more pets are abandoned during the fall and winter," said Kathryn Moorman, president of the Animal Protection League of Mercer County, based in Celina.

Problems get worse as winter goes on, she said.

"People buy puppies for Christmas and by the end of January they turn them over to the pound because they change their minds," she said.

The league, formed in August 2001, provides microchips, spaying and neutering, dental checks, pregnancy care and heartworm prevention and treatment for stray dogs.

The APL's largest expense is veterinarian fees, said Moorman, who has served as the group's president for 10 years. Veterinary costs this year totaled $25,000; adoption fees raised just $9,000, she said.

"We rely on donations to cover the remainder," she said. "We are a completely donor-funded group. A lot of people see 'Mercer County' in our name and think we are funded by the local or state government. That just isn't the case."

The APL also seeks foster homes for rescued dogs.

"We provide the vet care while (foster owners) provide food, love and a temporary place to live until we can find the dog a 'forever' home," Moorman explained.

Foster programs each year save countless animals from being euthanized, according to area organizations.

Open Arms Pound Rescue, locally based in Celina, also helps unwanted dogs find permanent homes. One of its most successful programs is Open Arms Transport, which provides transportation for dogs to homes in the U.S. and Canada.
"We use more than 70 volunteer drivers to bring the dogs to places like Michigan and Toronto every weekend," said Peg Bollenbacher, a local Open Arms Pound Rescue representative.

Open Arms Pound Rescue and the APL often board dogs at local facilities such as the Celina Pet Center.

"They are usually there for two days to a week on average," Moorman said. "We do not board our dogs long term. It's just too stressful for them."

The number of strays and euthanized animals in Mercer County has declined during the past decade, Bollenbacher said. 

"Do not worry about sending strays to the pound," she said. "(Mercer County Dog Warden) Tom Powell does everything he can to work with Open Arms and the APL to not euthanize dogs. It is more profitable for him to have the dogs re-homed."

According to its website, the county dog pound can euthanize licensed dogs after two weeks and unlicensed dogs after three days. However, the local groups are making the action less necessary.

"Before the Canadian foster program, the (Mercer County) pound euthanized over 90 percent of its dogs," Bollenbacher said. "Now, some are there for over a month."

Websites and online social networking sites such as Facebook have led to adoptions but problems can occur, Bollenbacher and Moorman said.

"We constantly see residents posting in local Facebook groups and on Craigslist giving their dogs away to strangers without doing any kind of research into these people," Moorman told the newspaper. 

She added that more should be done to ensure the animals' safety.

"You can ask for a veterinarian's reference," she said, adding the APL also can help.

Most bad situations can be avoided if people act responsibly, Bollenbacher said.

"Spay and neuter your pets," she said. "Find the breed that is right for you, your family and your living situation and license them."

Residents can learn more by visiting www.aplmercer.com and www.openarmspoundrescue.com.

Both organizations also are in need of volunteers, the women said.

"Everyone brings something special to the table," Moorman said. "But it takes all of us to make a difference."