They are making money off dead cats? http://www.smithfieldherald.com/news/story/2336201p-8714243c.html Shelter raises its profile By SUZETTE RODRIGUEZ, STAFF REPORTER SMITHFIELD - A little exposure is doing the trick. In the last five months, the Johnston County Pet Adoption Center has raised its adoption rate for dogs by 17 percent, up from 29 percent. Ernie Wilkinson, the interim manager at the animal shelter, gives the credit to volunteers who have been faithfully keeping photos and descriptions up to date on Web sites, like Petfinder.com and 4042.com. And he said animal rescue groups, particularly the Johnston County Animal Protection League and Saving Grace, are also making a difference. "We're including them in decision-making and making them feel more a part of what we do," he said. "And it's working." Because of liability concerns, the county doesn't allow volunteers to work inside the shelter. But Wilkinson says that outside activities -like the animal fair put on by JCAPL last Saturday - are helping get out the word. "We'll never be able to operate at the same (funding) level as Wake or Mecklenburg. The county has so many other pressing needs. So we have to think outside the box, and we have to depend on volunteers," he said. Wilkinson says that new residents from large metropolitan areas are used to sophisticated animal control agencies. "We're playing catch-up," he admits. "But unless people help us, the money we spend is wasted." Wilkinson was hired as interim manager last October after the shelter made a mistake and gassed a family pet, a German Shepherd named Niko, who was being held under voluntary quarantine. Two shelter employees were suspended while the director, Roger Davis, was suspended and demoted to lead animal control officer. Since the incident, the shelter has put into a place a system that tracks every animal from the time it arrives until it leaves, Wilkinson says. With Davis back on the road as an animal control officer, the shelter is able to answer more calls. Davis also handles scheduling and operations and is assigned to the sensitive calls, Wilkinson adds. Ullie Mattern, president of the Animal Protection League's board of directors, says her group complements the shelter. "We refer people to them; they refer people to us. It's the best approach. It's really nice," she said. Through the foster program, the League takes dogs out of the shelter and works on finding them homes. For the first time, the shelter has started giving dog food to the groups to help with their expenses, Wilkinson added. Iams, a dog food company, has agreed to give the shelter a year's supply of food. Wilkinson's contract will expire on June 30. He was recommended that the county hire a full-time administrator for the Pet Adoption Center. Meantime, the adoption rate for cats over the past five months has fallen off by two percent, down from 19 percent. The shelter has been picking up so many more strays that the numbers are skewed, he added. Wilkinson said the shelter has been able to sell to a research company some of the cats that are gassed. The company pays $4 per carcass. In all, the shelter handles about 5,000 animals a year.
Hey, I just noticed that it says adoptions have increased greatly in the last FIVE MONTHS. That is EXACTLY how long since the PETITION started. Since mid-November.
If the animals have to be put away and nobody wanted them as a pet, I see no reason as a tax payer and citizen not to sell them. Although, I am not sure you can do it here in NC, in Georgia through the drivers license buera you can, and I did donate my body for research. In NC you can indicate on your drivers license that you are an organ doner, and I encourage everyone to do so! Sorry about the spelling!
When will the Animal Rights people start protesting over this? PETA is trying to pay shelters to not accept gifts form Iams .... They should dispose of them in a landfill instead of getting more money for them? It seems like a rational and reasonable program to convert a liability to an asset to me.
It says the rate has fallen in the past five months for cats but that the volume is different which skews the comparison. Meantime, the adoption rate for cats over the past five months has fallen off by two percent, down from 19 percent. The shelter has been picking up so many more strays that the numbers are skewed, he added.
Shelter raises its profile By SUZETTE RODRIGUEZ, STAFF REPORTER SMITHFIELD - A little exposure is doing the trick. In the last five months, the Johnston County Pet Adoption Center has raised its adoption rate for dogs by 17 percent, up from 29 percent. Can't you read? Adoptions are up by 17 percent for dogs.
I can read, can you? The article gives no reference as to whether all adoptions are up only that dogs are up and cats are down, the increase in dogs could have been offset by the drop in cats. The decrease seemed to have been lost in the reference by the first poster and I was pointing it out. The majority of dogs and cats are still not adopted.
I can't believe the guy was demoted for gassing ONE family pet. Oh yeah, selling the cats is a good idea. I'm sure that they probably end up at a Vet school somewhere and can only contribute to the longevity and overall health of other cats. Afterall, it is done with people, why not cats? It does seem in bad taste to call the dead cats "carcasses"... I prefer "feline cadavers". A carcass, in my mind, can be found on the side of the road or at the landfill. Just my $.02. /not a cat-hater fyi...
I suppose they could collect them like Beanie Babies (the cheap imported knock-offs that smell funny)
Its immoral and wrong. Satan Jr and David are not taxpayers of this county, so what you guys have to say is irrelevant.
I don't see anything wrong with selling the dead cats. What is immoral about that? What would you prefer the county do with them? Spend money for a pet cemetary maybe??
The truth is always relevant .... :wink: Maybe you now know who I am and where I live in order to support your assumption that I do not pay any taxes in JC? Did you get it from my IP address maybe? :roll:
Someone told you incorrectly if I don't pay Jo. Co. taxes. Can we store the dead gassed cats at your house, toothless? It's not immoral. If it is cite me chapter and verse from whatever fucked up bible you are reading. Oh yeah Commandment 11: Thou shalt not sell dead cats for research. Dork
Um, speaking of dead cats, do they still dissect cats in high school advanced biology lab? We did, back in my day (*Moan* *Groan* OH so old... *creak* *crackle* *pop* Them old bones... ). Well, I didnt, I was gone that semester luckily. It's probably been banned or something since then ... I'm just curious about when they stopped. That's what they did with euthanized cats, back in the 80s. (Back in the year 1989...) Sold them to the schools.
Unfortunately cats are going to be put to death at ALL county animal shelters. If selling the dead bodies brings in money so the shelter can better provide for the animals still up for adoption, or makes it possible to keep more animals alive for a longer time, then absolutely, sell them. BUT, if the profits go into "pocketbooks" only, then I think that is wrong. My 2 cents.
Ready, Thank you. That makes sense. But unfortunately it's documented that it does go into "Pocketbooks" at other shelters. I'm not saying that it happens HERE, but it happens all over the country in the few places that still sell to research.
Of course there is no reference to that "documentation" so you will just have to take the troll's word for it .... :roll: How many is "the few"? Could it be that live sales are being incorrectly included in these figures? Were you aware of the sale of euthanized animals to rendering facilities too? I suppose you oppose that as well ....
