Community adopts dogs facing euthanization

POLKTON — When the Anson County Animal Shelter had an increased euthanasia risk last week, they received overwhelming support from the community.

The shelter needed to clear out kennels to have their back floors redone. Fifteen animals needed to be rescued, adopted, or fostered between Dec. 10 – 19 during the repairs, or they would be euthanized. All animals have been saved.

Three rescues took animals last week. Misplaced Mutts in Beaufort took several. Greater Charlotte SPCA took eight dogs, opening up multiple kennels. Beautiful Together Animal Sanctuary in Chapel Hill rescued a mom and her pups.

Also, two volunteers fostered animals. Joan Young is currently fostering one dog, and Alice Summers is fostering one dog until she heads to rescue.

Volunteers are critical for a shelter’s success. “Without them, shelters will rarely, if ever, be able to become a low kill. Anson has some wonderful volunteers too,” said Kristi Newton, a networker with the shelter who helps connect animals at the shelter and those without a home to rescues.

Newton also stresses the crucial need for spaying and neutering, laws, and rescues that step up when needed. Without them, animals are being sent back into the same community that is already overpopulated with animals. Until more is done, the situation will not get better and animals will continue to die because of the lack of space in shelters.

“Some animals will not make it out of shelters because they are a danger to society and the kindest thing for them and the safest thing for the community is to humanely euthanize them,” Newton said. “Any adoptable animal should have a chance and euthanasia should be the very last resort but again, spay and neuter and laws are necessary for that to happen.”

“The rescues I call on are the absolute best of the best and I am truly privileged that they choose to work with me and work so hard to get the animals into their rescue and out of shelters or bad situations in the community,” she added.

Anson County Animal Shelter director Maureen Lett also agreed on the importance of rescues.

“Without them we could never adopt the number we need to get out to not have to euthanize weekly, maybe even daily,” Lett said.

Ultimately, shelters and the community working together is key.

“Anson is very fortunate to have such an amazing director, Maureen, and staff that will work with the community, rescues, and volunteers. Maureen and her staff go above any shelter I’ve worked with for their shelter’s animals,” Newton said.

“I wish more shelters would see that [when] working together in unison with the community, the animals benefit and so does the community.”