Schuyler shelter is over capacity

    SCHUYLER COUNTY—The Humane Society of Schuyler County has experienced an influx of stray and abandoned dogs and is now over capacity.
    Society Director Georgie Taylor said they now have 30 dogs in the shelter which is designed for 16 dogs.  She added this is an all-time high.  Just last week, three different dogs were found on three consecutive days.
    Two more dogs, male pit bulls, were found Monday evening.  Like the other recent dogs they were not neutered.  Taylor added they had no tags either.
    “It seems like a huge number of dogs either stray or abandoned,” said Taylor.
    She added that the humane society usually finds more stray dogs in the winter.  She said that people who have been harboring dogs outside decide they don’t want the responsibility of taking care of the animals during the cold months.  Taylor explained abandoning an animal is a crime and punishable with up to $1,000 per animal and one year in jail.
    “We need people to take responsibility and to spay and neuter animals,” added Taylor.  She said that none of the animals recently taken in by the humane society were spayed or neutered.  Taylor said the society does offer a low cost program to fix pets.
    The humane society is also having a hard time caring for all the extra animals.  Taylor said they need volunteers to help man and clean the shelter, under supervision.  She added financial assistance is needed as well.  Taylor said that just this weekend, the society took a cat to a veterinarian’s office because it was run over in the Tops store parking lot Sunday morning.  She explained that not reporting an accident like that is also a crime.
    To contact the humane society about claiming a dog, call 535-9906 or 594-2255.