Abandoning an animal: the cold realities

Someone left a homemade pet carrier made out of a litter box on a picnic table outside the Kootenai Humane Society. An employee almost didn’t see it because it was covered in snow and ice.

No one knew how long it had been there, who left it there, or if there was a live animal inside. They brought the box inside and pulled the electrical tape off and looked. A shivering, scared, soaked cat looked up and meekly meowed. It had survived.

This unfortunate story has a happy ending. The cat recovered from the ordeal and was adopted to a loving family.

“Abandoning an animal is a traumatic and possibly deadly experience,” said Vicky Nelson, development director at the Kootenai Humane Society. “Animals are abandoned at the shelter all year long. People are putting their precious lives at risk: Cold in the winter, heat in the summer, suffocation, or falling prey to another animal out here on the prairie.”

Nelson notes that if you have an animal that you cannot care for, do the humane thing – find it a good home. Call your family, friends, put your information on social media. Take the responsibility you accepted when becoming a pet owner. Abandoning an animal, either at the shelter, in your home or yard, or on the street, is a misdemeanor. You also run the risk of death for the animal.

“If you need assistance, please call us,” said Nelson. “We will give you information on your surrendering options and may be able to help you place your animal into a forever home.”

You can reach KHS at (208) 772-4019.

The Kootenai Humane Society is an independent nonprofit animal shelter with a “No kill” policy. It has limited space and resources. The shelter is open Monday thru Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Visit www.kootenaihumanesociety.com for more information.

By MARC STEWART

Staff writer

Marc Stewart is Director of Sponsored Content for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached at [email protected] or 208-664-8176, ext. 2011.