As I write this, animals in Vance County are suffering and dying.
This is not meant to judge anyone, but to explain some hard facts about what’s happening to cats and dogs in Vance County and what you might do to help.
1) The oft criticized Vance County Animal Shelter is bursting at the seams, last week holding over 150 in a facility built for a third of that many animals. Although our devoted local volunteer rescue, Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society pulled around 50 animals Friday and carried them to safety to NEW YORK, I guarantee by the time this letter is roughly drafted the shelter will be full again. If you think a new shelter will solve the problems, it’s in the works, but take a look at Franklin County which has a much newer, larger shelter. Since the county instituted no policy changes, such as mandatory spay/neuter, they face the same problems they did before.
2) Want to blame the shelter? You will not find a more dedicated and passionate group of people working with Animal Control than our county staff and the few volunteers that give their time there.
3) Some people call them “murderers” because sometimes animals have to be euthanized, (which is a polite word for “killed”) That happens when animals are too sick or aggressive to be saved, and when the shelter, rescues and fosters can’t squeeze in one more last kitten, cat, dog or puppy. “No excuse”, I’ve heard, “they didn’t ask to be born.” The Alternative? Many say “Let them run free, turn them loose!” Drop them off somewhere, someone will take care of them or they’ll take care of themselves.” Anyone involved in animal welfare has seen the results…that’s when the county goes out and picks up the dead from the road, Animal Control has to try and catch or trap the terrified ones that survive and go feral, have litters, have been torn up by wildlife or other dogs, been shot, or are just starving…they depended on the owners they loved and trusted to care for them; they don’t know how to care for themselves. Only because of our rescue, Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, is the euthanasia rate in Vance County significantly lower than surrounding counties, which run in the 80%-90% plus kill rate.
4) You may be tired of hearing about spaying and neutering, but it’s a major responsibility of pet owners. It cannot be stressed enough, not only for overpopulation control, but for the health benefits for your pet. If you’ve had it done, GREAT!!! It’s time to tell your neighbors, friends, and family as well. And when you’re told “Oh, we found homes for our puppies/kittens” please nicely tell them they need to allow no more litters as the ones they found homes for will be having their own young within six months. Once you start extrapolating out how many litters those young and their young can have in a year, five years, the numbers are staggering. And no slack for the people who own males; an un-neutered male can impregnate countless females in a short period of time. You can have the surgery done at your vet, and we have a low-cost mobile spay/neuter unit called SNAP-NC that comes to Vance County at least once a month. Check out their web site; they also have a more reduced cost program for pet owners on government assisted programs. If you can afford to keep feeding them and their young, you can afford to neuter them. If your pet is already pregnant she call still br spayed. If you already have kittens or puppies, please find them homes with people that will spay or neuter them.
5) Some pet owners drop off or surrender their pets at the shelter; the cute kitten grew up to be a cat, they’re just tired of him, or just plain don’t want them anymore. Animals have feelings; they can be happy, scared, depressed, and they love you for life. So if you’re going to adopt a pet let it be for the life of the animal if at all possible. Consider they may be with you for 15-18 years, the time and expense involved. If you have no choice but to get rid of a pet, please try re-homing them first. Until Vance County SPCA gets an informative web-site going you can find good re-homing information at SPCA of Franklin County (spcafc.org). And by the way, if you must surrender your pet to the shelter, PLEASE don’t go visit them…it may make you feel good, but your pet goes through the hope of going home with you and the despair and re-adjusting once more that it’s not going to happen.
6) By the way, if you’re angry at Animal Control because you’ve called them to trap cats or dogs and nobody’s come, be aware that they’ve received over 90 calls in 2 weeks alone for people needing animals trapped, mostly cats. You can purchase a trap inexpensively for cats, trap them and take them to the shelter. There is also a small group of folks here that help with the trap-neuter-return program where cats are trapped and sterilized, then returned to live out their lives. But they must be fed by a responsible person. SNAP-NC also gives a discount for neutering ferals.
Yes, as I am writing this, animals in our county are suffering and dying. This isn’t just Animal Control’s problem, it’s a community problem; a community with a lot of caring people that don’t know how to help. And a community responsibility. These are God’s creatures being tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage. So how can you help?
VOLUNTEER/DONATE. You don’t have to work at the shelter; some folks can’t deal with that and that’s OK. But do have room in your life to foster one cat, one puppy until homes can be found? Can you go to the shelter and walk a dog, play with a kitten and help socialize these animals to help rid them of their fear and make them more adoptable? Can you donate ANYTHING-the shelter needs non-clumping cat litter, disposable litter pans, fish flavored canned cat food, newspapers, and bleach. If you can donate a few dollars the money goes into Vance County’s General Fund where it is earmarked for the shelter, but be sure to make a check out to Vance County Animal[i]Shelter, 165 Vance Academy Road, Henderson NC 27536.
If you’d rather donate to Ruin Creek Animal Protection Society, please go to their Facebook Page for information on helping to chip-in on animals that are sick, or to help cover the costs of their weekly transport of shelter animals to other rescues. On their page you can also see pictures and descriptions of dogs and cats needing adoption. There is indeed something special about rescuing an unwanted animal; often incredibly strong bonds are formed. Or just visit at the shelter. Shelter animals have an undeserved stigma. Most just need loving homes. Many are simply scared, confused or depressed, waiting for their owner to return.
If you want a purebred dog please check with the shelter first. There are also rescues online for every breed of dog.
If you witness an act of cruelty, please report it. This includes pit bull and cock fighting and puppy mills. The Humane Society of the United State offers a $5,000 reward for information on any of these illegal activities.. If you don’t like the fact there is no leash law in Henderson or Vance, or that chaining dogs is legal within certain restrictions, contact your county commissioner; they make the policies here.
GET INVOLVED! The shelter staff, the volunteers, and mostly, the discarded cats and dogs need you. Please contact the shelter or Ruin Creek for questions, or you can go to the Vance County SPCA Facebook page. Only with your action will better lives for the animal become available.
Peggy Satterwhite
Vance County SPCA; Vance County Leader for the Humane Society of the United States
Thank you, Peggy and all the employees and volunteers at Vance Co Animal Shelter, Ruin Creek Protection Society and Vance Co SPCA.
I can adopt strays, which is easy, compared to day in and day out finding homes for abandoned animals.
Don’t think you want your dog or cat to have puppies or kittens because you think it willl be fun and cute and you might make some money – there are tons of unwanted puppies and kittens and one litter can lead to hundreds of more unwanted offspring.
Adopt a pet, then get it spayed or neutered. End the cycle. Pets are expensive to be taken care of properly but can give you great rewards from their companionship.
Shelters have pure bred dogs and they network with other shelters. A mixed breed with dominant traits of the breed you are interested in often have less expensive veterinary issues, personal observation.
Thanks again, Peggy and friends.
If people would have listened to Bob Barker years ago on the Price is Right, we might be a little better off. Spay and Neuter your animals! And if you can’t afford them, don’t get them!
It all goes back to spaying/neutering your pets!
It is estimated that six to eight million dogs and cats will enter shelters in our country each year! Just by spaying or neutering your pet, you can take the most important step in fixing this problem. Did you know that a single female cat can have three litters a year with an average of five kittens per litter? In only seven years, she and her offspring could potentially produce 420,000 cats. In just six years, one female dog and her brood can produce as many as 67,000 puppies!! (This fact is from idausa.org) Just look at the astounding number of animals you could prevent going into shelters, and being killed, just by spaying and neutering!!
Our shelter, as well as the shelters all around the country, would not be full at all if people were to start spaying and neutering their pets!! It is quite affordable at SNAP, and they do, indeed, have MUCH lower rates for people on federal programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, disability, etc. The surgery can be done if your animal is in heat or pregnant. SNAP’s mobile unit (sometimes two units) comes to the Vance Co. Shelter, the Granville shelter, and all other surrounding counties. Just call them please (919)783-7627…or go to their website http://www.snap-nc.org.
I am wondering if Vance SPCA is hiring or looking for volunteers right now. If so,how do I apply?? Thank you!
TLRuiz, I’m not sure but you could contact Peggy Satterwhite, who is the local contact for the Vance County SPCA. Visit their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vancecountyspca?ref=ts&fref=ts
This goes along with the topic of this thread: Young African American Males are dying…..whose fault is it? In Vance County’s case it seems that the young bucks are running around shooting each other as if they are playing paintball. Where are the “ADVOCATES” or self-proclaimed activists when another young buck gets a toe-tag?
Society is losing an entire generation of young African American Males and nobody seems to care? Giving the baby mama’s some mo’ govt’ assistance doesn’t seem to be solving the problem. So now what…………………………………….?
I don’t know what is worse, Deception’s racist rant or the despicable lack of blowback by anyone on this blog. “Young bucks!?” Deception, you no longer belong to an intelligent species. You are a souless invertebrate.
Gunshy….if you had any intellect whatsoever you would know that the “slanguage”…i.e.”young bucks” is a common way of describing the young individuals(black or white). Bullets don’t have names on them but in Henderson and Vance County the “young bucks” are packing heat and no longer are disagreements settled with a fistfight but rather with gunfights. They are shooting into vehicles/houses/apartments w/o an oz. of care of respect for human life. Until you actually get out and “pound the pavement” and “sit and listen” to these ‘young bucks’ do us all a favor and don’t speak on something you are clueless about. Like I always said……Statistics don’t LIE…People LIE!!!! If you like the way things are then continue to sit and hide behind your computer and throw you rocks b/c evidently you live in the GLASS HOUSE down on Satterwhite Pt. Rd? When is the last time you went by the Boys & Girls Club and offered to volunteer or made a donation? When one of these constantly flying stray bullets happens to strike one of your loved ones then maybe you will care enough to get from behind the computer. I see it and deal with it on a seemingly weekly basis!! Sleep Well!!!
P.S. It wouldn’t hurt to proofread or hit spellcheck on your threads before you post b/c your point can be taken a little more seriously when it isn’t filled with words that aren’t spelled correctly!! I’m just sayin……………….
Excuse me, you are a soulless invertebrate.
Said it before and it rings true now……Deception has a very valid point. He is just as concerned about the decline in our local society as I am.
Publius….nice of you to have spellcheck(and know how to use it). Mojo Risin….seems as if you have a little wisdom of your own. I’m so glad I don’t live in that DUMP called Henderson. We made a decision as a family about 5-6 years ago to move due to the increasing # of Home Invasions/Murders/Drive-Bys,etc that were happening seemingly every weekend. With a county that has well over 100 Churches it speaks volumes about the lack of commitment to today’s youth. One thing for sure is that the # of Section 8 Housing Units are nearing the double digits and statistically play a role in the vast # of cars you see parked over at the Dept. of Social Services Bldg. on a daily basis. FEAR NOT…..as I heard the customer in a store in Henderson say Saturday night b/c “Ima bout 2 git my tax$$$ back” and when asked how much she was expecting by one of her associates…her reply was hopefully “ima git back bout $9,000” and “ima let my sister carry 2 of my kids b/c they told me at the Income Anticipation Loan Place that any kids after 3 won’t git you no mo’ $$$$”. So she said she was “SELLING HER KIDS” to her sister for $1,000 b/c her sister only had 1 child. And you sit behind your keyboard and wonder what is wrong with Henderson,Vance,NC, and the USA? Look around you…..and at yourself!!!! Therein lies the problem!!!!
She’s just maximizing her benefits. Are corporations any different?
Don’t know about the corporations you speak of but I know the local drug dealers and the newly re-opened Internet Sweepstakes Parlors will be happy!!!! Seen it with my own 2 “old” eyes!!! Woman loses all her $$$ in the cafe and goes from patron to patron asking do they want to buy any Food Stamps….$100 worth for $50? Not a bad deal and I watched when she made the deal with what I’m guessing was the 3rd or 4th person she made the offer to. And you wonder why the govt. is a JOKE? Just look at the local politicians in Vance County…..you have “sleepy” a.k.a. Commissioner Wright who I witnessed fall asleep during a meeting when the local volunteer fire depts. were providing updates on the ins/outs of the fire depts. Fell asleep!!! Witnessed by more than 3 people b/c they were talking about it in the gallery. Now that’s what I call a good politician. Next you have hester who when defeated by hughes pouted and said that he WOULD NEVER run for another political seat in Vance County….well what do you know? Like Jason off Friday the 13th….He’s BACK!!!!
As for the city council folks……one is a bail bondsperson who also has a vote on the budget of the local Henderson Police Dept. So isn’t that a ‘conflict of interest’? What about inscoe who when the apartments were being done over the stores in downtown Henderson was using a company owned by his daughters? Conflict of interest? Next you have v.brown who said on a local radio talk show that if he was elected and wasn’t sure of how to vote on an issue or didn’t know anything about the issue would just vote like the majority!!! How about take this novel approach and do a lil’ research before you play “follow the leader” b/c I don’t see a LEADER within any of the governing bodies of the county you call Vance!!!
I hear all the time of people selling their foodstamps for cash. What do you think of a photo ID check on food stamp checkouts?
Anon3…great idea. Wish we could make those using food stamps validate via finger print. Hate that for people who are using the program for its intended purpose but our government assistance initiatives are way out of hand. Ever wonder why people are “married” but have different last names??? Unfortunately I have heard of people allowing their friends and relatives to “claim they kids” on their taxes as well. Low life’s who engage in that behavior should be “claimed by they prison”.
Deception,
I must agree that you are right on point with all of the issues you stated. This is exactly why I am trying to rid myself of this county……high cost of living, high crime, high poverty and NO commerce.
Deception says:
“FEAR NOT…..as I heard the customer in a store in Henderson say Saturday night b/c ‘Ima bout 2 git my tax$$$ bac’k’ and when asked how much she was expecting by one of her associates…her reply was hopefully ‘ima git back bout $9,000 and ima let my sister carry 2 of my kids b/c they told me at the Income Anticipation Loan Place that any kids after 3 won’t git you no mo’ $$$$.””
Then she says:
“Internet Sweepstakes Parlors will be happy!!!! Seen it with my own 2 ‘old’ eyes!!! Woman loses all her $$$ in the cafe and goes from patron to patron asking do they want to buy any Food Stamps….$100 worth for $50? Not a bad deal and I watched when she made the deal with what I’m guessing was the 3rd or 4th person she made the offer to.”
So she spends all her time in sweepstakes parlors and other stores in a town she calls a DUMP that she claims she moved away from. I don’t believe her. The soulless invertebrate has forgotten to take her meds, unless she’s a patron at the Butner Psycho unit and now has internet access.
GunShy: Unlike you I happen to have a job which requires me to do lots of traveling and I don’t mind going into stores in “foreign” cities!!! You keep solving the World’s ills from behind your keyboard and I will continue to FIGHT THE FIGHT!!!! Sleep Well…..
P.S. The dump you call Henderson isn’t the only city in NC that has Sweepstakes Parlors/Internet Cafes in case you haven’t been out of your house lately. Seems like you may be a little “GUNSHY”?
Back to the subject of the thread….The animal shelter and the dire straits of animals.
Why not pass a license fee to even own an animal?
Maybe if people had to pay up front to obtain an animal, they’d think twice before getting an animal on a whim.
All such fees collected would be earmarked for the shelter, and the needs of the animals held there.
Anyone with an animal who had not paid for a license, would face a fine much higher then the license fee.
The problems in Vance County, and everywhere else, of over-population of cats and dogs is the same as with many of the problems in Vance and elsewhere…the total irresponsibilty of people.
IMO…Vance and surrounding areas need to get serious about instituting strict laws in all pet and animal control, neglect and abuse. It isn’t just about being humane…it’s also a health and safety issue.
I live on a country road, where animals are dropped off frequently. There is nothing kind about dropping off a domesticated animal that now has to fend for itself. It is cruel and inhumane.
If people find they made a mistake or for whatever reason cannot keep a pet…take it to the shelter.
Cats and dogs are not throw away objects…they are living feeling creatures.
A BIG Thank-you to Peggy Satterwhite and all who volunteer and donate time, energy, and supplies to help the animals.
Why is everyone upset about dogs and cats? There are alot of children ot there in the same fix.
because the thread article is about dogs and cats.
and some people are concerned about abandoned dogs and cats.
Are we not supposed to be able to discuss it?
Why not start a thread about kids?