By sharing resources, Elmore says shelters can cut down on costs and increase efficiency. Perhaps even save more animals’ lives … and taxpayer money.
Stretching dollars and manpower are big concerns for shelters. It’s partly what led to a dust-up between the Animal Society and Charleston County … although there’s a little more to the story.
But that’s another column.
The point here is that just as the Lowcountry’s human population is growing, so too is its animal community. Although that's a real concern, there’s only so much political will for funding shelters.
Hence the idea of joining forces to consolidate forces, share expertise and duties — and get more feral animals spayed or neutered.
Which brings us back to the kitten dilemma.
This problem is often made worse by folks just trying to do the right thing. They see unattended kittens in the wild, collect them and drop them on a shelter’s doorstep.
That's seldom a good idea, which the Animal Society has been trying to stress with its “Leave ’em be” campaign. The idea is that it’s better to leave kittens outdoors with their mothers.
As Kay Hyman explains: When people come across a batch of kittens, they automatically assume the animals are abandoned. Usually, though, the mom is just out hunting for food and will be back to feed the kittens; these animals don’t abandon their litters.
So, anyone unsure about the status of found kittens should check back on them around dusk — a popular feeding time. And, Hyman says, err on the side of doing nothing. Because when you separate a kitten less than four weeks old from its mother, its chances of survival drop by half.
Elmore says cats have lived outside for 10,000 years, and it’s only humans who have decided they need to live indoors. Unless they’re in distress, they’re fine … until they start roaming.
That’s good advice, which is not only better for the cats … it’s better for overwhelmed shelters, like the Animal Society and Pet Helpers on James Island.
