By DARLA MACCAMMON
Executive Director, Animal Welfare League

WARSAW — It was a dreary Friday night. We stay open until 6 p.m. on Fridays. One staff member and I were the only two left at our shelter. It was well past closing and I had locked the doors and was heading to my car when a lady  pulled up in a rather nice SUV.

“Are you open? I have two pets I need to drop off.”

I looked through her window and saw two darling little Shih Tzu Dog faces looking back at me. I sighed. Why would someone get rid of these guys? They looked really cute. “I will go back in and get two cages for them, and I will unlock the door, please take them in so Cindy can get down the information that will help us find them a good home.”

“Are you absolutely sure you want to surrender them?”

She said “yes,” so I unlocked, then went back to get the cages. I came back up to the front office and the lady was inside along with the two dogs. Only, they were not cute! What I had missed when I saw only their faces was one of the worst flea infestations I’ve ever seen in my life. It was down to the raw, bleeding skin on both these precious little guys. I wanted to take this woman and smack her. Cindy and I were both almost speechless at the suffering on these dogs.

I began to question the woman and her answers were vague.  She got them off an internet site.  No, she thought they were OK when she got them.  She had tried flea powder but it didn’t work.  No, she could afford a fancy SUV but she couldn’t afford to take them to a vet for treatment. She didn’t want the “bother” of taking care of them any longer.  Then, to top it all off, she said she did not have even $25 for our surrender fee (which, for your information is nowhere close to what it costs us to treat, care, feed, vaccinate, pay staff, pay vet to spay, neuter, rabies protection, heartworm test…etc. and all that we do for each pet).

I bit back my nasty retorts and condemnation but it was difficult. We took the pets and she left. They are far better here in our care. We began treatment right away. As I was finally ready to leave and had started to pull out again, I saw a truck pull in with a beautiful big friendly dog in the back. We took that pet in also. Such is our life at the Animal Welfare League.

Christmas is a wonderful time to donate to the Animal Welfare League for many reasons:

• You are helping a very good organization to continue its’ efforts to provide many services to our community.
• You are adding another deduction to your tax return before the end of the year.

What are some of those services this organization provides? Lost and Found pet service, which is computerized and helpful. New homes for homeless pets.  Controlling overpopulation by spay/neuter.  Educating, training, visiting schools. Visiting nursing homes. Providing events, working with seniors and military,  tours with stations for different activities and learning for scout troops, “Y” kids, any group, disadvantaged and handicapped visits and so forth.

The list is long and this organization quietly provides so many services of which the public is unaware to help both our community and the pets within our community. We are an open door humane shelter that welcomes all.

Your AWL is going to have a new home and you are all invited to help us get it created. Please drop in to see the new plans and all the expanded and wonderful things for our community that will be available.

Merry Christmas and you will be giving to a very deserving charity if you give to the Animal Welfare League.