By Maggie DiGiovanni
Elmore/Autauga News
Rea Cord, executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County, Wetumpka, AL, is a woman who loves the animals brought into the Society. She also worries about them while in her care and even after they are adopted.
With prices on everything skyrocketing, providing shelter and care of the animals is a daunting task. However, Rea was quick to point out that there are amazing donors, and without them the work would be impossible.
For example, one pallet of food may cost as much as $1400-1500, but that is only the beginning. Costs of utilities have risen, as well as caring for the animals.
Retailers who used to be counted on must now make tough decisions on what charities to support. If they help one, 10 more show up, so the company must pick and choose to whom or what they give donations, she said.
“I get it and I understand. If they give to one, ten more come forward asking for donations,” Rea said. “Corporations having limits is a smart move to protect their managers and people. But the changes are hitting everyone. We have individual donors who want to help, but I hate to ask them constantly to help us get food.”
EAN: “Do you have a problem getting volunteers?
“Honestly, this is not an easy place to come in and work. It’s one thing if a person goes into the cat room and plays with the cats, but some dogs are not easy to handle. Ask our dog walkers. Our dog walkers are regulars. If a person wants to volunteer as a dog walker, he/she must be able to commit a minimum of one day a week for at least half a day. When they know the task, the volunteers make the schedule among themselves.
“When a volunteer starts, I hook them up with a seasoned dog walker, so they can get the lay of the land. We cannot always do that with someone who wants to come for two hours as there may not be an exerciser available at the time they want to come. Many of these dogs come to us as strays and have no leash manners or could bowl a child over. With many dogs, we find we have to say ‘no children’ to ensure everyone’s safety.”
EAN: “I often see people putting their hands out to strange dogs. Isn’t that a good way to get attacked or bitten?”
“Yes. I had a big dog in Europe that I walked for years. Never did anyone try to pet him. They always asked ‘can I pet?’ or ‘will it bite?’ Never failed. But bless our Americans, they will run up to a dog, like you are not standing there, and I have hollered at people to stop.”
Rea went on to talk about people who take their dogs everywhere. “If your dog bites someone, you are in trouble for taking it to a public place, especially if it has tried to bite or bitten someone before. That dog would probably prefer to be left at home. They might not want to walk on hot sand or pavement or visit the places you enjoy.”
The conversation moved to the popular doodles.
“Humane Societies are being swamped with the ‘doodle’ dogs,” Rea advised. “Their coats mat and require a lot of care. People get tired of it, or the cost of grooming is so high that they bring them to us. When people get them, they do not understand that they are looking at $100+ a month for grooming. Then they get mad because if the coats are matted, the only thing the groomer can do is shave them down. The problem is that often two dogs with totally different coat textures are bred. When the pups are born, they have unmanageable coats. To make money these days, cross two breeds, give them a cool name and you will be able to sell them.”
EAN: “When I was growing up, the pups of two breeds mixed were mutts, and people gave them away.”
“They are still mutts, but now, because they are given cool names, people spend $1000-$5000 for them. People get upset when the veterinary records say ‘mixed breed.’ Some will reply that theirs is a pure breed, because the mother was a full-blooded breed and the father was another full-blooded breed.
“EAN: “Does the AKC recognize any of them?”
“That no longer holds any sway. We grew up in a time when the American Kennel Club was the Gold Standard. Do you know how many registrars are out there today? And it is all because of money. People get a paper from them and are all happy, but the paper means nothing.”
In closing, Humane Society of Elmore County appreciates all donations, and they can use volunteers – especially at their Tail’s End Thrift Store. The Thrift Store accepts donations, and has a large variety of items for sale. All proceeds go back to HSEC.
Rea said “Contact us to see how you can best help as we love all of our supporters and volunteers dearly!”
Contact Information: 255 Central Plank Rd, Wetumpka, AL 36092 or 334-567-3377, email hselco@bellsouth.net or learn more at https://www.elmorehumane.org .
