Pictured is Skittles who was once a stray taken in this past March by Nancy Nies of Laureldale. Skittles, named by Nancy, was undernourished and needed someone to help her regain her health. Nancy did just that. During this process, it was discovered Skittles was pregnant.
So Nancy took care of Skittles and her five kittens. Nancy found homes for three of the kittens. Nancy apparently could not keep Skittles nor the two other kittens,
She decided to take them to the Animal Rescue League of Berks County to surrender them so they could be placed for adoption.
After Nancy brought in Skittles to the League, she went outside to retrieve the two kittens. While Nancy was outside retrieving the two kittens, an ARL employee took Skittles back and euthanized her. According to the article, here is what transpired:
“In the few minutes it took Nies to return to the office and begin filling out the paperwork to surrender the cats, she said, Skittles was dead. The staff had euthanized her.””We gave her a home, and we thought we were doing the right thing by taking her there, and they kill her,” Nies said through tears. “We thought we were taking her to find a good home, not thinking we were taking her on her last ride.””The Rescue League staff told Nies that Skittles had become agitated and aggressive, and they were forced to put her down. A devastated Nies immediately left the shelter with the two kittens, which are now up for adoption at One by One Inc., a cat rescue shelter in Kutztown.”
There are so many things wrong on so many levels with this scenario.
One……..the paperwork was not completed to surrender any of these felines. The ARL did not have permission to euthanize any of them until the appropriate work is completed.
Second…..Skittles was deemed a stray cat because that is how she was originally found by Nancy BUT Nancy gave Skittles a home for months. Skittles was no longer considered a stray, not to me, anyway.
Third…….Nancy’s mistake was in her thinking the League would find Skittles and her two kittens homes.
What I don’t think people realize about the Animal Rescue League is they are now considered a high-kill shelter. As the article states, 20% of the cats that come through their doors are adopted or returned to owners. The others (80%) are euthanized. The ARL has contracts with all of the municipalities and townships of Berks County. They are the ones responsible for taking in all animals, including strays.
The Humane Society of Berks County is no longer responsible for this since they do not hold any contracts to these places. In essence, the Humane Society is able to pick and choose what animals they want to take in and deemed adoptable. The ARL is forced to handle all of the other animals- an insurmountable task, in my opinion.
Harry Brown, Director of the ARL says there are new policies in place when surrendering strays as stated in the paper:
• All animals must be leashed or in a crate, carrier or closed box.• Animals will not be taken from the lobby until paperwork is completed.
Regarding the second new policy- that should have been implemented years ago.
While I feel very badly for Nancy and for Skittles who was nursed back to health, I think people need to realize that the Animal Rescue League is responsible for the animals in the ENTIRE county. Because of this, people need to realize the high numbers of animals coming into the shelter are going to lead to a high mortality rate. Most cats do not leave there alive.
In previous articles, it has been stated that the ARL also sees many Pit Bulls and Chihuahas entering their shelter. Most of the Pit Bulls do not leave that shelter alive either.
It is a cold, sobering fact. One cannot escape it. Is it the ARL’s fault that they have a high mortality rate? No. The fault lies squarely with the previous owners who have relinquished or abandoned these animals as in the case with Skittles who was once a stray.
Would Skittles have found a home if placed up for adoption? Too hard to call.
If there is one thing to remember from reading this today: If you take your pet or a stray animal to the Animal Rescue League, the chances of your pet/stray finding a home is not what it used to be. There are simply too many animals entering that shelter and not enough homes or people willing to adopt them.
Better yet- be a responsible owner and keep your pet. Be more responsible and don’t get a pet if there’s a thought in your mind that you may not want to keep your pet down the road. And don’t abandon your pet and allow it to be a stray. Don’t push your problems off on an animal shelter that clearly cannot save many lives!