HSEC NEWSLETTER
Humane Society of Elmore County News – 14 Jul '25
Rea Cord
Executive Director
Moving, too active, allergic, no time for, cannot afford, too many animals, too big, digs, can’t find homes for the litter, chewing everything, new baby, too old, keeps running off, got a younger one, can’t take care of, can’t control, scared of, getting aggressive, keeps breaking the chain, sheds too much, won’t housetrain, not using litter box, new partner doesn’t like, kept her puppy/kitten instead, jumps on people, needs too much attention, neighbors complaining, chasing livestock (especially free-roaming chickens), not protective enough, children not taking care of, simply don’t want ……
All of the above are reasons we have been told by owner’s surrendering their pets. For those unpredictable life changes or unavoidable situations where re-homing a pet is in the pet’s best interest or a true necessity for the owner, we are glad our shelter is able to help both the pet and the owner. But far too many pets are surrendered for lack of homework before getting the pet, or lack of a true lifetime commitment to that pet, and, in all honesty, that is not what Animal Shelter are here for. Responsible pet ownership means making sure you are not only ready to take on a pet when it is little & cute, but that you will commit to caring for that same pet throughout its entire life. That entails all the challenges of raising and training a puppy or kitten and then also dealing with it during adolescence when you are ready to throw in the towel until the pet matures and settles down. It means committing to providing adequate food and fresh water, shelter, containment to keep the pet safe, bathing and grooming, exercise, vaccinations and necessary veterinary care, pooper scooper patrol, cage cleaning (for a smaller critter), and spaying or neutering to prevent unwanted offspring. And it means dealing with all of this for the entire 10-15-20 year lifespan of that pet, to include the infirmities that come with old age.
The vast majority of “owned’ pets being surrendered to us were obtained free. And, easily, 90% of surrendered pets have received zero Veterinary care. We see it almost daily – easy come, easy go.
Doing some homework before obtaining a pet is vital and why we work with our adopters to help try and find the best match for their family, energy level, personality and living situation. If an adopter lives in a small apartment and works all day, then a Beagle who likes to ‘talk’ a lot and loud might not be a great fit while a smaller, less active (and less vocal) breed mix could be a perfect match. Living through the two-three years of juvenile and young adult behavior of larger, energetic breeds like the beloved Labrador Retriever are not for the faint of heart. And knowing the grooming requirements in terms of how often and the cost are huge issues for coated breeds like all the ‘doodles’ now in our communities. Landlords (and insurance companies) often have breed, size &/or quantity restrictions and knowing these saves grief on both sides.
Adding a pet to your family should be a BIG deal and we appreciate those who make sure they are ready for the time, personal & cost commitments owning a pet entails.
Rea Cord, M.S.
Executive Director
Humane Society of Elmore County
255 Central Plank Rd
Wetumpka, AL 36092
Ph: 334/567-3377
Fax: 334/567-8774
Email: hselco@bellsouth.net
Website: www.elmorehumane.org
"Each of us can only do the best we can for as many as we can and that will never be good enough for those of us who care!"
"Adoptions are about finding homes more able, more committed or simply better for the pet that came into our charge. Adoptions are not about numbers or rewards or statistics. We strive to place our pets like they are our own."
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