by Matthew Thompson
Daily Mail staff
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper wants the county to give money to the Kanawha-Charleston Animal Shelter to help control the pet population and lower the facility's euthanasia rates.
Last year, 6,553 animals were euthanized at the shelter. It was the most since 1990.
Carper said he was distressed by that figure. He wants the county to work harder and help the shelter educate the public on spaying or neutering their pets.
"We need to do a better job of controlling the pet populations and have an aggressive public education program," Carper said. "This is an unnecessary killing of animals."
The county commission plans to discuss the issue at a meeting Tuesday.
Carper wants the commission to decide on a dollar amount to help with a public information effort.
"It could be things like an informative poster or brochure at every veterinarian location around the county," Carper said. "These simple things can have an effect."
Donna Pauley Clark, the animal shelter's executive director, said the public should understand that sterilizing pets could limit the number of animals euthanized each year.
She said most of the problems occur in rural areas of the county.
"You go up these hollows and there are people with five or six dogs and cats - and none are spayed and neutered," Clark said. "We want to target these areas."
Clark said she hopes county funding could help with "The Big Fix," an annual effort dedicated to help spaying and neutering pets.
The event happens between October and January, Clark said.
With the program, the shelter works with area veterinarians to spay and neuter pets at a reduced rate.
The effort is funded by donations the shelter receives throughout the year.
In the past five years, Clark said 6,494 animals have been sterilized at a cost of $170,000
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper wants the county to give money to the Kanawha-Charleston Animal Shelter to help control the pet population and lower the facility's euthanasia rates.
Last year, 6,553 animals were euthanized at the shelter. It was the most since 1990.
Carper said he was distressed by that figure. He wants the county to work harder and help the shelter educate the public on spaying or neutering their pets.
"We need to do a better job of controlling the pet populations and have an aggressive public education program," Carper said. "This is an unnecessary killing of animals."
The county commission plans to discuss the issue at a meeting Tuesday.
Carper wants the commission to decide on a dollar amount to help with a public information effort.
"It could be things like an informative poster or brochure at every veterinarian location around the county," Carper said. "These simple things can have an effect."
Donna Pauley Clark, the animal shelter's executive director, said the public should understand that sterilizing pets could limit the number of animals euthanized each year.
She said most of the problems occur in rural areas of the county.
"You go up these hollows and there are people with five or six dogs and cats - and none are spayed and neutered," Clark said. "We want to target these areas."
Clark said she hopes county funding could help with "The Big Fix," an annual effort dedicated to help spaying and neutering pets.
The event happens between October and January, Clark said.
With the program, the shelter works with area veterinarians to spay and neuter pets at a reduced rate.
The effort is funded by donations the shelter receives throughout the year.
In the past five years, Clark said 6,494 animals have been sterilized at a cost of $170,000
"We do a little better each year," Clark said. "The word has gotten out more and it's helped, but people constantly need to know that it's going on."
The animal shelter has begun new campaign to show the public how many animals have to be put down each year.
The shelter wants to collect 6,553 pet collars, one for each animal that was euthanized last year.
Shelter officials plan to make a chain of collars around the Greenbrier Street facility to honor National Homeless Animals Day on Aug. 16.
Carper said he understands how much animals can mean to a family.
Carper had a 10-year-old Labrador named Morgan. The dog had been sick for the past few weeks after doctors found a tumor on her neck.
Over the weekend, the dog passed away.
Carper said dealing with his dog's illness reminded him of the importance of pets.
"This incident reminded me how much pets mean to people," Carper said. "They are like members of the family."
This wouldn't be the first time the commission has given money to the shelter.
In 2003, the county gave $35,000 to the shelter for similar efforts.
Carper said he's optimistic that commission support could save animals' lives.
"We need to do something," Carper said.
"A small percentage change could alleviate a lot of suffering."
Contact writer Matthew Thompson at matthewthomp...@dailymail.com or 348-4834.