Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406020194
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At least, it is at the Salem Animal Shelter, where June is Adopt-a-Cat Month.
The first spring litter of kittens begin showing up as strays or abandoned pets in June. This means cats are plentiful, and Linda Albert, a Salem Animal Control officer, thinks it's terrible.
"People don't realize what they're doing," she said.
A widespread practice is for people to let their pets have litters of young that either get dumped on the street or taken to an animal shelter when the owners can't find homes for them.
"If they can't find homes for them, how do they expect us to?" Albert asked.
And because of that, she said, many of the young pets sent to animal shelters must be destroyed.
More than 7,000 animals are destroyed by animal shelters in the Roanoke Valley each year, she said.
Albert said spaying and neutering would take care of the problem, but many people ignore a state law requiring sterilization.
One unspayed cat and her offspring can bring about more than 420,000 kittens in seven years, Albert said, citing figures compiled by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Sgt. William P. Bandy Jr., Salem's chief animal control officer, said that, even with the sterilization law, it is "an uphill battle" to reduce the pet population.
He believes, however, that the sterilization law, which went into effect last July, will show results in the years ahead.
Albert said cats and dogs are available for adoption all year, but cats get top billing in June because that's when animal shelters usually have an abundant supply.
Albert said people should be cautious when adopting pets. A spur-of-the-moment adoption usually is a mistake, she said.
"You should think long and hard about this" and ask yourself if you're ready for a pet.
Especially, she said, don't adopt a puppy or kitten as a surprise gift for someone.
"Just because you think it is cute, the person you give it to may not think so," she said.
If a pet is going to live with a family, Bandy said, the adoption should be a family decision.
A long-term aim of the shelter's program is to help reduce the pet animal problem.
Animals - namely dogs and cats - may not seem like much of a problem in Salem, but, Albert said, it takes constant vigilance to keep them under control.
The animal control department can't do it alone, she said. It takes the cooperation of citizens.
"Animal control is not just catching dogs anymore," she said. "Animal control is the cooperation of everyone so animals and people can live in harmony."
Many people are careless with the essentials, such as allowing animals to reproduce with no limit, dumping unwanted animals, and allowing pets to run at large.
Albert thinks it is sad the way many people treat animals, through ignorance or an uncaring attitude.
The Salem Animal Shelter - only one of several shelters in the area - has an average of 800 animals a year, Albert said, and many of them must be destroyed because there are no suitable homes.
Rabies also is a big threat to animals. Albert pointed out that state law requires all domesticated pets to be inoculated against rabies in addition to their being sterilized.
Albert sees her department engaged in education as much as control.
"We're trying to keep problems from happening," she said.
Members of the animal control department visit schools, clubs and other organizations to promote proper animal management.
The Salem Animal Shelter's main educational and public awareness event is in December at its annual "Pound Party."
Most of the shelter's complaints are about dogs. But Albert and Bandy said complaints about cats are increasing. They predict that one day Salem will have to enact a cat licensing law.
Dogs and cats are not the only animals that cause complaints. The department gets about 350 calls each year about wildlife - raccoons, skunks, groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, snakes and an occasional deer or bear.
Anyone interested in adopting can call 375-3078. There is an adoption fee of $25, which $20 goes toward sterilization of the pet. During June, gift certificates to Pet City will be given with each cat adopted.
by CNB