Sunday, May 11, 2008; Posted: 09:19 AM
Carmen Arey, the business manager of BCHS, said that if "people were responsible, we wouldn't have to do" the things they do about bringing in and taking care of abused pets.
Barbara Bennett, the executive director of Stray Haven, said that it's "very important" to be kind to animals. Both of the women stated children who abuse animals later grow up to abuse people.
Arey mentioned that the staff likes to teach children to be kind to animals and that if they find adolescents or teenagers abusing animals they should stop them right there. Bradford County Humane Officer Kevin Morse said some "career criminals started out abusing animals." Bennett remarked that having pets "teaches kindness with kids" and helps make them a "better person." Arey even stated that a pet has been "proven as an alternative medicine" and that they "can be soothing," especially for the elderly.
As for abuse cases, Morse said there are between 100 to 200 abuse cases a year in Bradford County, which had over a hundred last year. So far this year there have been 25-50 already. Morse said these can range from phone calls from those suspecting abuse to actual cases.
Bennett said her shelter doesn't get a ton of cases but investigates the ones that it does get. She also mentioned that if the owner complies with the shelter's demands, he can keep the animal, but if the situation is too bad then staff will take the pet.
"Inadequate water, food and shelter" is the biggest abuse problem for Bradford County, Arey remarked. She said many people pass off carrier crates as adequate shelter but they are not, adding that there have been cases of dogs and cats in crates stacked on top of each other.
In Tioga County, N.Y., Bennett said "a lack of care" and "personal attentiveness" is their biggest problem. She mentioned domesticated pets, especially dogs, "want to be a part of the family," not chained up outside by themselves.
Another more common problem is starvation. Bennett said some people don't realize "certain animals need more food than others" and mentioned that this problem, for them, is more prevalent in farm animals than domesticated ones. Though they "don't see it as much in dogs and cats," she has seen cases of dogs "extremely underweight". For cats, she said, there are some people who just don't like them.
Arey pulled out a scrapbook of animal horrors that have happened throughout Bradford County. On the first page was a story of a property where numerous dogs had died out in the open with a mother fighting for her life in a small shelter, surrounded by her dead puppies, Arey said, beginning to get choked up.
She continued to Dakota, a dog that had gasoline poured on him and was set on fire. The book also contained stories about horses, which are sent to foster homes by the shelter if they are abused, and cats. Arey stated that these cases "were uncalled for" and that she doesn't "want to see anymore."
If a person believes animal abuse may be happening he should call a local shelter. The "majority of (shelters) have cruelty investigation" Bennett said.
Arey remarked that any calls about possible abuses to the Bradford County humane officer are confidential. She added that the shelter's first concern is to help the animal before anything else. Arey did state, though, that many perpetrators only have to pay for the animal's care; they don't pay for "mistreating the animal." However, she said, multiple offenses of cruelty to animals can lead to jail time.
The number of calls of possible animal abuse cases they get usually depends on the season. Bennett said winter is their busiest season, with reports of dogs being left outside with "access to nothing." She said they can get up to 20 calls depending on the season.
Arey mentioned winter as well but added owners should be careful in the summer, too, about leaving dogs in cars. Morse added that on an 80-degree day leaving a dog in the car for half an hour can kill it. He remarked that they get about five calls a day on possible animal abuse.
With all the abuse cases that come through Arey said that she wants people to be "aware of 'Be Kind to Animals Week'" and encourages people to open their "hearts and homes to a canine or feline friend in need."
To contact the shelters for information on adoption or to learn more about how the average person can help call (570) 888-2114 for the Bradford County Humane Society in Ulster and (607) 565-2859 for Stray Haven in Waverly. To report animal abuse call the Bradford County humane officer at (570) 888-4763, and for Tioga County, N.Y., contact Stray Haven.
Chris Manning may be reached at (570) 888-9652; e-mail: reviewvalley@thedailyreview.com
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