Pet rescues clarified

Dear Editor,

Due to the recent discussions and controversy on the description of rescuing dogs from unpleasant situations and placing them in better ones, I would like to clarify the rescue process.

All over the United States there are organizations run by caring animal people to remove pets from places where they are not being cared for and finding new homes for them. They are first spayed or neutered to help the over population of unwanted pets and then homes are found for them

For several years The McCook Humane Society has participated with rescues to place some of pets that we were unable to find appropriate homes in our area. There are rescues for all breeds of dogs and also some for mixed breeds.

The internet has been very instrumental in reaching the people who line up these transfers. One of the rescues that I personally was involved in was organized by a volunteer in Chicago that started a transfer of a Shorthaired Pointer from Ohio to Colorado. The shelter had a Bassett Hound to go to the Bassett rescue in Denver so it was taken to North Platte to meet the people enroute with the other dog. This network does a terrific job in finding pets new homes.

I personally know of no instance where rescued dogs were placed in kennels with the sole purpose of breeding and selling the dogs to pet stores.

Spaying and neutering has long been the goal of the local Humane Society to cut down the population of unwanted pets and I only wish that we could alter each and every animal that leaves the shelter but due to our small size and inadequate funds it is impossible.

Although each pet that is adopted is given a coupon to assist in the cost of altering, that is funded by a portion of the dog adoption fee, and also with discounts given by the veterinarians of the area there are still too many.

In my 19 years of volunteering I have seen a marked difference in the litters of puppies that has been surrendered but even so there are still too many animals to be adopted to new owners.

I just wanted to clarify the difference in rescuing dogs and breeding them.

Respectfully,

Marilyn Cuellar

McCook Humane Society Volunteer