Area organization offers alternative solutions to animal-dumping

by Cherokee County Texas Spay NeuterDog and cat dumping is at an all-time high this holiday season as struggling families decide to scapegoat the family pet for their poor economic situation. There are also people who (out of frustration due to lack of resources) are forced to dump an animal that was dumped on them. Below is a list of tips if you are about to dump or find yourself a victim of dumping: 1. Free Pet sites lure dog fighters and hoarders, but your friends/family/coworkers/neighbors may want your pet. Ask trusted people if they would like to give your pet a home first. 2. Community pages can be good resources for dog and cat food. Sometimes donors are willing to give money for vetting. Rescuers and rescue people are usually drained financially. You can ask them to sponsor a spay or help with food, but our community is full of people who are not in the rescue world and are willing to help. Shelters may also have food available. 3. Cherokee County doesn’t have a county shelter, and the city shelters only take animals within their city limits. Most dog and cat rescues will be full due to lack of fosters and funds. If you are able to foster or donate, that may increase your chances of getting your pet into their program. 4. Spaying should be a high priority. Having one dog can be financially straining enough. Puppies will only add to the hardship. We can only issue vouchers when we have funds and you may have to utilize discount clinics in Cherokee County or nearby counties in order for you to afford the procedure. Anderson and Smith County are two options. 5. Make sure people know that animal dumping is no longer a socially acceptable solution to problems. Putting your burden on your neighbors is not OK, but many people will not hold dumpers accountable. If you are a victim let everyone within your circle know what it feels like to be barely hanging on financially and emotionally only to be saddled with someone else’s problem. They close their ears when “animal” people start the monologue on personal responsibility and commitment to pets. But when people outside the animal rescue community start voicing their concerns, they are more likely to listen. Cherokee County Texas Spay Neuter is a nonprofit organization that offers free spay/neuter vouchers to Cherokee County residents as funding allows. As of Nov. 30, 2024, an estimated 1,371 vouchers have been issued for 652 for dogs and 719 for cats. CCTSN was founded in October 2019. To learn more, visit www.cctsn.org, “Cherokee County Texas Spay Neuter” Facebook page or email ccts19@gmail.com.