An animal shelter in Huntsville is filling up as pet owners in north Alabama abandon their unwanted animals.
Huntsville Animal Services told WAAY 31 that pets are dropped off at the shelter all the time, but some are dropped off after hours without staff knowing.
“Some people are reassigned for work, some are in the process of being reassigned, some come right away because they don't want to wait in the delivery line, or they just want to avoid the owner's collection fee. “Sometimes it's just a matter of time,” Interim Director Vargie said. Graham said.
Over the weekend, a man threw his 2-year-old dog over the shelter's fence and from a height of about 6 feet above the ground, Graham said.
“If you drop the animal from that distance, the impact of the ground can injure the animal, so that's not recommended,” Graham says.
When shelter staff found her on Monday, they left a note claiming she had been “aggressive towards other dogs.”
Graham says this is not a safe method for any animal.
“When you throw them out like this and they have to watch it, it stresses them out,” Graham continued. “It also creates fear and gives them uncertainty about what's going to happen to them,” Ms Graham said.
Graham said the animals are left at the shelter after hours several times every few months.
But he says animals are being abandoned not just in shelters, but all over the city.
“Even if they abandon it in our community, that animal can end up starving to death, sometimes from disease, and sometimes encountering other predators,” Graham said. continued. ,” Graham said.
Graham said if anyone is no longer able to care for their own animals, they should bring them to the shelter so they can get the help they deserve.
“We want people to take the right route and bring their babies here and see what we can do, because there are a lot of rescue organizations that partner with us. ,” Graham continued. Animals are an opportunity to move forward,” Graham said.
Click here for more information about adoption resources in your area and information about adopting at Huntsville Animal Services.
