County officials believe there is a lot of confusion,When it comes to the differences between the Greene County Animal Control Office and the Greeneville - Greene County Human society.We partner up,Work together and try to help each other out,said Justin House,Greene County Animal Control Director.
Animal control has to take in all stray animals in the county,but the Human Society only takes in the friendly and adoptable animals they have room for.The Human Society Manager,Amy Bowman,said animal control often has to euthanize many more animals than the Humane Society.They do have to take in every stray animal in the county and when they run out of room they have no choice,she said.There are so many strays in our county that have to be euthanized because people don’t spay and neuter their pets so there are all these liters of unwanted animals.
According to the animal control quarterly reports,324 animals were euthanized between January and March of this year.That number nearly doubled to 626 between April and June.In the third quarter, 673 animals were euthanized between July and September.That’s a total of 1,623 animals put to sleep within the first nine months of the year.The fourth quarter reporter euthanasia numbers are due January 11, 2012.
Bowman said the Humane Society puts down less than 50 dogs per year.The only time we have to euthanize would be if the animal is aggressive or severely ill or injured and we can't give them reasonable treatment,she said.
According to House,the state of Tennessee only requires animal control to keep animals for three days. After that point, they can be euthanized.But he said his agency keeps the animals as long as they have room.In most parts of Virginia, animals that don’t have any identification must be held for at least five business days before they are euthanized.Animals that have collars or micro-chips must be held for at least ten business days.
The Humane Society is the only no - kill shelter in the county,Which means they would never euthanize animals to make room for more animals,According to Bowman. She said there are other no - kill rescue groups in the area,But the Human Society is the only one with a shelter for the animals.If the animal control office starts to run out of room,They take some of the more adoptable animals over the Human Society to find permanent homes.
Another difference between the two agencies is funding.The animal control office gets its $163,000 yearly budget from the county,The city of Greeneville,Town of Mosheim,Town of Tusculum and Town of Baileyton.They each pay a percentage based on population.The Human Society gets its $220,000 budget almost completely from donations.We receive no federal,State or county money.We rely solely on our community,Bowman said.Donations for the Humane Society can be sent to: P.O. Box 792 Greeneville, TN 37744.
Bowman stressed that public education is the key to preventing animals from ending up in shelters.She said the Human Society starts teaching the young animal lovers first.We try to give a presentation every child in elementary school in our county and city.Hopefully we reach each child by the time they're in the sixth grade,she said.
Medical costs are the biggest expense for the Human Society,according to Bowman.It costs $80 to adopt a pet from the Greeneville - Greene County Humane Society.That fee includes one year rabies vaccinations appropriate to their age,micro - chip,A full vet check,and a mandatory spay/neuter according to Tennessee law.
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