A Year at the Durham Shelter: 7,154 Stray Animals

February 3, 2009

By: Simon Woodrup

Thursday morning, before the shelter was even open, we had a knock on the door and an individual had five puppies to surrender. By the end of the day, we will likely have taken in another 15 dogs and cats. That is an average day, every day of the year.

John Bowman wrote a thoughtful article in The Herald-Sun on Thursday regarding the question of where funding priorities should be placed. I am sure the point of the article was not meant to imply that ours or any other specific program in Durham County is not worthy of funding. There are countless organizations doing amazing work on behalf of many seen and often unseen needs. The article, however, may lead some to question what it is, in fact, the Animal Protection Society does. I welcome the opportunity to address that question.

Hundreds of animals are brought to the Durham County Animal Shelter each and every week. Last year, we had 7,154 animals come through our doors. Many of these animals are surrendered by their owners because they can no longer care for them. A day doesn't seem to pass without someone coming in with a cardboard box filled with kittens or puppies that have nowhere to go. Close to half of the animals we take in are strays; unwanted animals picked up and brought in by Animal Control or by kind citizens.

It is important to remember that the Animal Protection Society of Durham is contracted by the County of Durham to manage the Durham County Animal Shelter. Every stray, bite quarantine and animal involved in a cruelty case is here per county ordinance. The money that the county provides for this mandated service would be spent by the county regardless of the whether the APS operated the shelter or not. I don't believe anyone would question the need for a shelter for animals, if for no other reason than the public health and safety risks, the detriment to our community's quality of life and the unimaginable suffering that would occur if thousands of unwanted, sick and even dangerous animals were to be roaming our streets.

While the county provides funds to run the shelter and provide for the basic sheltering, food and medical needs of the animals that are housed here, that is just the beginning of the work we do. The Animal Protection Society, with money that comes entirely from donations and fundraising, not county dollars, provides an array of additional programs and services to address the problems of pet overpopulation, to better the well-being of the sheltered animals and to run an adoption program so many animals can be placed into good homes. Our outstanding volunteers work daily to help clean, walk dogs, play with cats and assist staff with paperwork. Despite the physical and emotional challenges, staff and volunteers work for the animals and the people in our community. The APS, again through donations and fundraising, provides additional veterinary care for the sickest of the animals and spays and neuters the animals that are adopted. We reach thousands of people in schools and at events and festivals with information on animal care and spay/neuter. We use available technology like the Internet and public access television to promote our adoptable animals. We provide funding to subsidize spay/neuter for low-income pet owners and we provide cat and dog food for the neediest of our neighbors. The list goes on and on.

Our dream is for the day when the shelter would be filled with empty cages, when the revolving door of unwanted animals would slow down just a little, and when everyone would spay or neuter their animals and kindly care for their pets for life. In the meantime, we are proud to manage the shelter for the county and pleased that in addition to the basic care we provide, we are able to be of service through the programs funded by generous donors.

I certainly hope that Bowman's article raises awareness for the work that Urban Ministries does. It is simply not a question of caring for animals versus caring for people. I am sure that when people consider the consequences of what Durham would be like without a well-run shelter, they will agree that every dollar spent by the county is not only worthwhile but completely necessary, not just for the animals who are completely dependent on humans, but for all the people in our community.

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A Year at the Durham Shelter: 7,154 Stray Animals

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