Effingham couple shares recent dog adoption dilemma and asks for clearer policy

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) – An Effingham County couple recently faced a dog adoption dilemma at the Effingham County Animal Shelter. They say the problem involved the shelter’s sterilization policy.

Robert and Jean Crisp stopped by the county shelter a few weeks ago with one goal in mind—to bring home their new, furry friend. The problem they say is that they couldn’t bring their puppy home without it being sterilized.

Georgia code 4-14-3 states shelters can implement policy requiring dogs and cats be sterilized before leaving the shelter or policy requiring adult pets be fixed within 30 days and young animals when they reach sexual maturity.

The Effingham County Animal Shelter abides by the code’s first policy, according to shelter Director Lorna Shelton.

However, when the Crisps filled out the adoption form for their new dog Winnie, the second policy option was the one listed on the form.

The Crisps agree that pet sterilization is important, but they also say there are factors, like the animal’s age and potential medical issues early sterilization could cause, that should be considered.

“I do believe in spaying and neutering, but at the right age,” said Robert Crisp.

Jean Crisp said, “We just want the people out there to know when you go to a shelter make sure you know they’re spaying and neutering policy.”

The Crisps recently lost their precious pup Mandi after she developed a mast cell tumor. The couple says spaying her when she was too young could have caused it.

Now they’re hoping the same thing doesn’t happen to their new dog Winnie. She was 11 weeks old when adopted from the shelter.

“Pretty much once we met her and took her out to the play area, we decided to go ahead with the adoption because we fell in love with her right there. She’s energetic and playful and cute,” said Jean Crisp.

Robert and Jean wanted to wait for Winnie to reach sexual maturity before spaying her, fearing medical complications early sterilization could cause.

Despite their pleas, Winnie was spayed.

“Now we’ve got to go through this avenue again, all over again as we did with Mandi, because of the unknown. I mean, we don’t know,” said Robert Crisp.

According to the American Kennel Club, too early spay and neuter procedures may affect an animal’s long-term health.

However, shelter staff say they have good reasons for requiring pets be sterilized before sending them to their forever homes.

Overpopulation and neglect are their biggest concerns, and they say sterilization helps combat those problems.

The Crisps say if more people respected their pets, they might have been able to choose for themselves when to sterilize Winnie.

“Other people, think about them too, that have to go through this like we are because of what other people have done,” said Robert Crisp. “I mean, come on. They’re God’s animals. Treat them so.”

A county spokesperson gave WTOC a statement on the issue: “The Effingham County Animal Shelter requires all pets to be spayed or neutered before they are released to ensure population control and promote responsible ownership. This policy is communicated to all adopters and is posted on a sign at the shelter. We have since included this policy in the adoption paperwork for better clarity. Unfortunately, the scheduled spay procedure for this animal was delayed due to Winter Storm Enzo. The sterilization has since been completed, and the adopters have taken the animal home. While we are saddened that they were unhappy with our policy, we wish them only the best with their new companion.”

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