Check this out  (by: Rusty Shackleford  -   6/30/2010)

Those suddenly finding themselves with alot of free time due to unemployment should spend some of that down time volunteering somewhere in our society. The Humane Society is one of many great choices. As at least one other stated though, due to location, travel to and from is less than easy. An unemployed person probably cannot afford fuel for that ride. It is nobody's fault. The Humane Society is located where it is for a reason. How about organizing a carpool? Perhaps that could be arranged and promoted by the paper or WWOJ. They can do a public service aiding in getting a carpool together for volunteers to and from the Humane Society. WWOJ refused to do a public service by mentioning neighborhood crimewatch meetings though, I don't know what their view is on "silly feral cats", as CAB puts it....Now let me tell you a motivational story. I have a friend that worked for Animal Control decades ago. The bodies of extinguished dogs and cats were his responsibility to haul to the clay pits in Avon Park. As he dumped a load of dead dogs out of the truck, one sprang to life and ran straight up the almost vertical clay wall and into the orange grove adjoining!! Guess it wasn't his time. He also witnessed kittens being popped in the head with .22 caliber rat shot. True story, even though it was a long time ago. If that is still the only alternative for animals other than the shelter of the Humane Society, perhaps we had all carpool out there and keep the cats and dogs from visiting the "clinic next door". I am sure many things have changed, so no one start going crazy on my comments, as they are based on a very old account. I do not know what they do now next door at Animal Control. Isn't it ironic that they are next door to eachother, yet have completely different philosophies on "animal control?", or at least they used to, don't know now. Thank you for your time if you have read my words.

getting behind  (by: Knucklehead  -   6/27/2010)

Mr or Mrs Puck: When are people going to wake up and finally take matters into there own hands? Everything that goes on in the County should not be handled by the city or county goverments! With your thinking, one day people will expect them to do your weekly grocery shopping. The humane Society is for the humane treatment of animals. Some people dont think animals should be treated any better than your average fire ant. And it is not up to our goverments to handle this, they have enough to do and are already messing up what they do pretty well already. This organisation should be funded by private donations and also local manpower. A few more of us should leave our estates to groups like this, Nu hope or Highlands Senior Center.,Iinstead of to greedy kids, that are only waiting for there parents to croke. When they die they dont even have time to go through there belongings that they have kept over a lifetime, they instead hire a company to come in and do an estate sale and just get whatever money they can for thre parents stuff! They then swoop in like a flock of vultures and fly off with whatever money they can, then put ma or pa in the ground or some dont even have a service for them, they just have them cremated and left in a box on the garage shelf. Then there only real friend that was with them while they were alive, either get put to sleep at the local vet or are incarcerated at the humane society with the efficiency of the Hitler Youth. What should happen is that fido should get all the money with the stipulation that the money is given all away if fido doesnt live out its normal life, or if it is given to the Humane Society they get the estate then. This would probably get Jrs attention and Fido would probably live out a life that he or she deserves.

how much?  (by: Jim  -   6/26/2010)

I figure there is pretty close to 100,000 people in the County. If everyone gave 10 bucks that would be close to a million bucks a year. I would hope they could run the program on a lot less then that. Im sure that was a typo from the reporter, but anyway we people in the area need to support the Humane Society.I know times are tough, but these dogs and cats didnt create the economic meltdown in the country. At one point they had owners, and all these animals did was give love to whoever owned them. I know some people pass away, some cant afford to keep them anymore, some get loose and the owners are not smart enough to go look for them. But still there should be enough of us here in the County that can give up one dinner out a month, or a pack of cigs, A dvd rental or anything else we take for granted each month, so that one of these dogs or cats can eat and have shelter until they find a new home. If something happend to me I would hope that there would be someone that would take care of my dogs until they found a home. They can be a real pain in the rear sometimes,( tonight when I got home they had found the toilet paper and all three decided to see how far they could spread it around the house) but they are one of the few things in my life that have always given me love and dont expect something in return. I guess we have to take care of the cats too, but I figure I will leave that up to Rusty to do. As far as volunteers, its a good idea but around here you are not going to find that many people that you can trust to water your plants while your gone muchless show up everyday to take care of a animal that is depending on them. So really, its better to have people on a payroll that you know have a better chance of showing. I will donate money next week, but the article should have been a little better and told people what are the donation levels are?. Another good idea would be to leave donation jugs at the local home owned banks, there you know the donations would be safe unlike at private places, where you dont know who ends up with the moolaa. Anyway I have a feeling this problem can be solved, if not the other place they go too they dont stand a chance of being saved !!

Positive cash flow  (by: Amy Smith  -   6/26/2010)

Every 501 (c)3 is struggling right now and it's times like these that reveal how effective the Humane Society's Board of Directors really is. Pleading with the individuals in an already economically stressed community to come up with an extra $10 every month is NOT the way to get your message across. Interacting with the public on a constant basis IS. Finding and generating a constant stream of income IS the way to continue your mission even when times get tight.
And before anyone gets on their high horse and tells me what I SHOULD do, bear in mind my daughter and I go to the Humane Society nearly every Wednesday (and have for a year now). We see the need and are doing what we can but I also see many areas that need improvment and cutting employee hours is not going to heal all the issues in this organization. Cutting your medical costs is a short term solution to a long term problem. The board needs to implement a membership program and stick to it. People are willing to pay to belong to something more than they are willing to just keep writing checks. There are grants available. No, they are not just handed out but when they are done correctly and earned it can garner your cause great respect and attention which can turn into usable dollars.
Our Humane Society does not have an insurmountable problem but it needs to be handled NOW, by the current board and not placed solely on an already strapped community.

Poor Management  (by: livnlearn  -   6/26/2010)

I agree, adoption fees should be lower. For years, unsocialized, unadoptable dogs were kept while adoptable dogs (equalling income) were turned away because of a lack of room. This makes no sense!
Now they're open 3 half days a week .... the animals are still eating, the staff is still feeding and cleaning. I'm sure there are volunteers willing to fill out adoption forms to keep the place open for free. Require too much skill?
OK, review the form before the animal can be taken home but take a deposit.

Humane Society  (by: Livnlearn  -   6/26/2010)

That the Humane Society is running short of funds is not surprising. I've seen unadoptable, unsocialized animals dogs kept for years while adoptable ones were turned away for a lack of space. It was run like a "fiefdom". Please don't bring back Marvene.

humane society  (by: my view  -   6/26/2010)

we all can afford to give a little each month, just give up one golf game, or one pedicure, pass on some new clothes, it doesn't take much. i just wrote out a check myself and wrote a reminder in my calender on each month. as far as stopping donations because YOU! didn't get a reminder is a joke, write it down yourself.don't be so uptight over somthing like that.

getting there  (by: Judy Ann  -   6/26/2010)

Those of you who are saying that a person who is not working and/or getting welfare should be ordered to go out and volunteer at the Humane Society, let me ask you a question: how are they supposed to get there if they do not have a car? A cab ride would probably cost $40 or more. My roommate(who is blind) and I uesd to go out there frequently because he had someone to take us, but she left so we have no way to get there. We live in Avon Park, so walking there is out of the question.
So how do you suggest those of us who are financially and in our case, physically unable to own and operate a vehicle get to the Humane Society?

CAB  (by: Rusty  -   6/26/2010)

Feral cats are not silly, just from Wisconsin. Just ask Sarah McLachlan........All of her support, and commercials trying to deter the public from stigmatizing strays and you gotta come out of the woodwork with your rant about a feral cat being silly. By the way, this is life. People you don't know are constantly approving or disapproving you whether you are adopting a cat or leasing a Volvo. Get used to it.

Humane Society  (by: G Puck  -   6/26/2010)

I find it hard to believe that there is not MORE local support for this valuable agency. The city and county need to get behind such an important effort.

fees?  (by: CAB  -   6/26/2010)

Bill
They gotta get some money to help more animals.
I am not sure what the adoption fees are at Highlands County Humane Society any more, but when I was there, I didn't think they were out of line. Try going to a northern state. (Wisconsin).
1. you have to fill out an application
2. you have to be approved by people who don't know you, don't ask anything of you.
3. if one person (the volunteer) is stupid and can't answer a potential adopters question you don't get the animal.
4. It cost $100.00 to get a silly feral cat.
5. It took me weeks to find the right person to talk to, chased them down, had to find the foster person, go 50 miles to pick the cat up.
Quit complaining..... it is easy there, unless things have changed.

AMEN  (by: BJS  -   6/25/2010)

A Volunteer you got it right. Those who are receiving assistance and NOT WORKING. Should have to repay by volunteering for services needed around the county. I believe that you should work for what you receive.

What came first? Chicken or egg? Adoption fees or healthy animals to adopt?  (by: Rusty  -   6/25/2010)

Good point Mr. Fowler but kind of a catch 22 I suppose.

Humane Society  (by: Jacob Walker  -   6/25/2010)

I like the idea of volunteers working vs. staff but I would also like to see people volunteer to pick up dog poop and clean kennels in 100 degree weather. Come on people, give me a break.
We need some serious solutions, not idea's from folks who have never been to the shelter and understand what it takes to care for, clean, medicate and adopt out over 1000 animals a year.

membership  (by: mjw  -   6/25/2010)

I was a patron member for years and sponsored two kennels every year when Marvene was at the helm. I would get news letters and updates about the H.S. I received notice when my dues were due. I get nothing now. I now have to beg to know when my fees are due. I gave up a year ago. I'm tired of having to call them and ask when my dues are due. How many others out there don't get a reminder about their membership dues. My mother is one of them. Try and get Marvene back. Beg her if you have too. I will send a check today. Please contact all of your members about their yearly dues.

i agree   (by: roxann  -   6/25/2010)

the adoption fees are to high and if you really want to get more money lower the cost of the anmals adoption and have eevryone bring a 40 pound bag of cat food and dog food and let the vets do free services for they make so much money .what are they doing to help?Also i agree if eevryone gave 10 dollors we all should it would save the precious animals from being put to sleep.there is no reason why dr's can not give donations and quite being money hungry

  (by: Rusty  -   6/25/2010)

Good idea Volunteer.

adoption fees  (by: Bill Fowler  -   6/25/2010)

Your adoption fees are way too high! You could get more adoptions, thereby reducing everyday expenses and turn over more animals instead of continueing to feed and shelter the same ones

Another sign of the times  (by: Rusty  -   6/25/2010)

Everyone should come together to help them. Nickle, dime, dollar. Something.

What About Volunteer  (by: A Volunteer  -   6/25/2010)

If salary is the problem then maybe look into running the shelter with volunteer labor my son during the summers would go there and volunteer his time at the shelter maybe some of the senior citizens could volunteer their time. Its summer time I am sure the shelter would welcome some high school kids to come out and volunteer their time. I think it’s a good program and with times as tight as they are for everyone we must look to ways that we can help each other even if it’s not in the form of cash. We could send the ones that are on welfare send them out to work in the community there is lots of work that the welfare force could provide to assist in giving back for what they get right now for free.