MissDolittle
11-17-2006, 02:03 PM
Hallmark: ‘There is no rabies outbreak’
In the wake of a recent rabies scare involving a rabid puppy adopted from the Weatherford Animal Shelter by a Stephenville family, one local animal lover wants people to know that adopting pets from animal shelters is safe.
“There is no rabies outbreak,” Judy Hallmark, director of the Erath County Humane Society said. “This was an isolated incident.”
And the need for pet adoption continues to be an issue.
Hallmark said the number of animals brought to the shelter daily is staggering.
“On average, we receive anywhere from 10 to 40 animals per day,” Hallmark said, adding that most are either strays or excess litters their owners can’t get rid of.
Hallmark, who lives on a ranch and is a devout animal lover, has worked at the animal shelter for 20 years.
Though she characterizes her job as fulfilling, she said it can also be heartbreaking at times when she comes into contact with pets that have been mistreated or are unwanted.
But her biggest problem is dealing with an increasing number of pets that come to the shelter, the majority of which are never adopted and eventually euthanized.
“We don’t want to kill these animals, but there are not enough people in Erath County to take them,” she said. “It’s a shame.”
Hallmark said in 2005, 3,102 animals were brought to the shelter, and 2,500 of them were euthanized.
That’s why Hallmark said she is such an advocate of having pets spayed or neutered. She said cats, in particular, breed fast, averaging at least three litters of kittens every year.
She said one woman recently brought in more than 30 cats and kittens in one day. Wanting to give stray cats she came into contact with a good home, Hallmark said the woman got in over her head when the cats began having too many litters.
“She just didn’t know what to do with all of them,” Hallmark said. “So she brought them to us.”
Hallmark said that while there is a strong need for pet adoption, she said that people should never adopt an animal at the spur of the moment.
“I don’t believe in that,” she said. “Pets require a lot of love and care. If someone sees an animal they really want, then they’ll take care of that animal. And that’s what is most important.”
Anyone interested in adopting an animal from the Erath County Humane Society can call 965-3247.
In the wake of a recent rabies scare involving a rabid puppy adopted from the Weatherford Animal Shelter by a Stephenville family, one local animal lover wants people to know that adopting pets from animal shelters is safe.
“There is no rabies outbreak,” Judy Hallmark, director of the Erath County Humane Society said. “This was an isolated incident.”
And the need for pet adoption continues to be an issue.
Hallmark said the number of animals brought to the shelter daily is staggering.
“On average, we receive anywhere from 10 to 40 animals per day,” Hallmark said, adding that most are either strays or excess litters their owners can’t get rid of.
Hallmark, who lives on a ranch and is a devout animal lover, has worked at the animal shelter for 20 years.
Though she characterizes her job as fulfilling, she said it can also be heartbreaking at times when she comes into contact with pets that have been mistreated or are unwanted.
But her biggest problem is dealing with an increasing number of pets that come to the shelter, the majority of which are never adopted and eventually euthanized.
“We don’t want to kill these animals, but there are not enough people in Erath County to take them,” she said. “It’s a shame.”
Hallmark said in 2005, 3,102 animals were brought to the shelter, and 2,500 of them were euthanized.
That’s why Hallmark said she is such an advocate of having pets spayed or neutered. She said cats, in particular, breed fast, averaging at least three litters of kittens every year.
She said one woman recently brought in more than 30 cats and kittens in one day. Wanting to give stray cats she came into contact with a good home, Hallmark said the woman got in over her head when the cats began having too many litters.
“She just didn’t know what to do with all of them,” Hallmark said. “So she brought them to us.”
Hallmark said that while there is a strong need for pet adoption, she said that people should never adopt an animal at the spur of the moment.
“I don’t believe in that,” she said. “Pets require a lot of love and care. If someone sees an animal they really want, then they’ll take care of that animal. And that’s what is most important.”
Anyone interested in adopting an animal from the Erath County Humane Society can call 965-3247.