Dellbabe68's note: I have known for sometime that Yonkers Animal Shelter - which is so poor in resources and facility but rich in volunteers and staff that dig into their own pockets - is actually quite well off in terms of not having to euthanize dogs as often as other shelters. So, I find the following story dizzying and terrible. Please help them if you can.
FORT SMITH, Ark. -- The Sebastian County Humane Society in Fort Smith is currently home to 300 dogs and cats, many of whom won't find homes.
In October more than 400 animals were euthanized and shelter officials fear that number will continue to rise.
(Please give if you can:)
"A lot of it is taking in more animals than we can afford to care for," said Sebastian County Humane Society staff coordinator, Dan Rose.
Sebastian County Humane Society officials said donations and adoptions are the lowest they've seen in years.
"We just go further and further in the whole to buy food for the animals every month," Rose said.
To make up for some of the loss three employee positions have been cut.
Cities animal control services surrounding the Sebastian County Human Society use the shelters service to care for dogs and cats on a regular basis.
The money they pay the shelter makes up about 34 percent of the operating budget officials said.
The rest of the operating budget comes from donations and fundraisers. In an effort to find more funding shelter officials have re-negotiated the cost per animal with city officials.
" We have successfully re-negotiated contracts with all the surrounding cities but the city of Fort Smith has traditionally brought us a lot more animals than they end up paying for," Rose said.
Rose said the expense to care for a cat is about $10 a day for a dog it's $15.
"On average they end up giving us about a dollar a day for cats and a few dollars for dogs," Rose said.
Hunane society officials said a $100,000 annual grant they relied on has been discontinued, so now more than ever they need the community to consider adopting from the shelter and to donate any pet items they can.
Shelter officials said donations they are currently in need of is blankets, litter, pet food, cleaning supplies and money donations.
Please give if you can:
(look for their paypal button)
or send in a gift to:
The Sebastian County Humane Society
P.O. Box 10953
Ft. Smith, AR 72917
Phone: 479-783-4395
