After reading Jen Siino's column, "Butte Humane Society not as nice to people as they are pets" last week, I thought, "Wow. This girl may love 'what we do' but she has no clue what we're actually doing or how stupid she sounds."
A bit harsh perhaps, but as someone who's devoted her life to the care and advocacy of our community's homeless animals, it's clear she could use a primer on student pet ownership in this community.
Opening words aside, I appreciate the chance to come back to The Orion. About a decade ago, I too was a Chico State student and an Orion editor. I first met the Butte Humane Society while researching an article for class, and it was love at first sight.
It wasn't that old, smelly building or all the cute, little, fuzzy kittens reaching out to me. It was there I learned about the realities of pet overpopulation in our community, and developed an understanding of its sociological factors. I am executive director, so I can tell you a thing or two about this shelter.
Butte Humane Society is a low-kill shelter that cares for more than 5,000 animals each year. We do so in an understaffed, inadequate and under-funded facility that is falling apart. In the summer, our animal intake jumps from 250 to 600 animals a month. Much is due to "kitten season" but students play a role, too; when the semester ends, many pets are abandoned.
The sad truth is, our society's disposable mindset often extends to living, breathing beings, and our shelter must deal with the end result of everyone's failed responsibilities.
We at the center strive to be friendly and understanding, but we have policies for good reason. We've seen more awful pet owners than you can imagine, so forgive us for being apprehensive. This isn't just a cute new friend; this life depends on you for survival.
Yes, the animal will be happier living in a real home, but we want the animal to stay there. These animals come to us homeless, confused, scared and alone - and it's our responsibility to ensure they don't go through it again.
I can't be the only one who sees the mistake in Ms. Siino's assertion that an "exception" should've been made in her case, when she and her sister wanted to adopt a cat but couldn't provide the required landlord approval.
How responsible is it to adopt an animal when you aren't even allowed to have one in your home? If you rent and want to keep your pet, your landlord must approve.
A "don't ask, don't tell" policy is, in other words, a "no pets" policy that people are disregarding. No matter what your neighbors have been getting away with for years, you could all be evicted or forced to give up your pet at any time. Don't think that you won't get caught, because you will. And guess where those animals end up. The shelter.
Want numbers? This semester we've taken in 11 animals because the owners' landlords forced them to surrender their pets. Another 20 were surrendered because the owners were moving to somewhere that didn't allow pets. Not all cases were student owners, but many were.
Instead of bashing the shelter for its lack of space and staff, try walking a mile in their shoes. Volunteer. It's the most gratifying experience in the world, to see an animal you love go home to the right home. It happens here every day.
Heather Schoeppach can be reached at heather@buttehumane.org
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