Animal shelter has tough job, deserves support

With the money, however, came a legitimate question from Councilman Jerry Calvin: Why do McCook taxpayers have to pay to take care animal problems throughout Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas?

The short answer is, they shouldn't have to.

As a practical matter, however, someone does have to.

It's easy to tell someone else to just say "no" to caring for an innocent dog or cat that has nowhere else to go.

The alternative, however, is having the dog or cat abandoned to fend for itself, falling victim to starvation, being struck by a car or, if it is lucky, picked up by McCook police officers and taken to the animal shelter anyway.

Kudos to Oberlin, Indianola and any other communities who are pitching in to help support the shelter. Let's hope more towns and counties join in that support.

While the shelter property is leased from the City of McCook, the McCook Humane Society is a private, nonprofit organization, not a city facility. Its board of directors has the final say over its operations.

Our gratitude to the volunteers and paid staff at the McCook Humane Society, who do a wonderful job, with limited resources, of caring for animals that have no other home. They do their best to be a "no-kill" shelter, being forced to euthanize a minimal number of animals.

That's a laudable goal. Most of the animals are victims of human problems such as unfortunate circumstances or irresponsible behavior.

But with the slow economy, increasing numbers of abandoned pets and lower numbers of volunteers, the McCook Humane Society may be forced to make some tough decisions.

In the meantime, there is a lot we can do to help out. For one, make sure your pets are spayed or neutered to help keep down the pet population.

For another, consider whether you might have room in your home and heart for a companion animal. Check out the Pets of the Week column in the weekend Gazette or the shelter's website.

Consider volunteering yourself, and encourage your friends and family to volunteer at the animal shelter. Staff members need help doing things like cleaning cages and dog runs, feeding animals, walking dogs, playing with puppies and kittens, leash training dogs, bathing and brushing and numerous other tasks.

Or perhaps you'd even like to serve on the board of directors.

Finally, consider making a generous donation to the McCook Humane Society so that others can keep doing their good work.

Located at 100 South Street, the shelter is open 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Call (308) 345-2372 or check out http://www.mccookhumanesociety.com for more information.