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Show Inhuman treatment of animal not always one purpose, says Humane Assnll By Beth Heggeness Sun shines from a bright, blue sky. Clouds drift lazily by, pushed along by a gentle breeze. A perfect day? But suppose you were sitting sit-ting in a parked car with no way to open the doors or windows and that same bright sun was shining in through the windows, heating the enclosed space to as much as 160 degrees. Comfort is impossible. im-possible. And yet, how often pets and children can be seen in a car, left to suffer in the heat for the convenience of parent or owner even in heat such as normally occurs in Moab during the summer? Shutting up pets and children child-ren in cars-to keep them out of the way-is just one example exam-ple of inhumane treatment of animals that can be found in Moab and nearby Spanish Valley. Such problems have concerned the local chapter of the American Humane Association As-sociation for a number of years, and it has been active in attempting to resolve some of the animal problems in Grand County. Dennis White, a field consultant con-sultant from national headquarters head-quarters of the American Humane Association in Denver, Den-ver, recently visited Moab to provide some professional advice ad-vice on animal problems. He described one judges's solution solu-tion to the above-described situation. The judge sentenced an unhappy dog owner, who had let his animal die from heat by locking it in a car, to spend 20 minutes in an enclosed vehicle parked in full sun on a day with a temperature of 85 degrees. Paramedics who supervised sup-ervised the carrying out of the sentence had to cut the time short to 15 minutes when they judged the man to be on the verge of passing out from the heat and lack of air in the vehicle. That man doubtless learned a valuable and unforgettable unfor-gettable lesson. Stray Animals Abound Although the "hot car treatment" treat-ment" is perhaps one of the more serious animal problems, prob-lems, it is not the most noticeable here. Any visitor to the Moab area almost inevi- tably comments about another an-other situation in the town-the town-the overabundance of loose animals. It is this area which has received the most recent attention here. Everywhere it is a common problem since the dog is the most popular pet. White commented that, besides be-sides creating a health hazard, loose dogs are being treated inhumanely. The chance that a roaming dog may be struck and injured or killed by a vehicle is, of course, much greater. And, chances are that the driver will not stop to see how badly the animal is hurt or make any attempt to find the owner. A dazed, injured animal may suffer for days, and perhaps even years afterwards from a poorly healed heal-ed injury. Chances of a human being bitten by a wounded animal are greater too-as it tends to be more irritable. Most counties attempt to control the loose animal problem prob-lem by hiring an animal control officer to pick up stray or roaming dogs and cats and by providing a temporary holding facility in the form of an animal shelter. Building a Shelter To consult on the construction construc-tion of an animal shelter for Grand County is specifically why Dennis White was called to Moab. At present, the City of Moab has a very small holding facility based at the Veterinary Clinic in Spanish Valley and one animal control officer, Leon Stocks. Grand County, including the Spanish Valley "suburbs" of Moab, has neither. Jim Wiseman, recently named to the City Council, was appointed by that group to study the cost feasibility of building an adequate animal shelter. He was asked to report his findings to the Grand County Commission as well. While both governing bodies have long recognized ' the need for an animal shelter, I no provision of funds was made in the current city or county budgets for construction. construc-tion. After Wiseman consulted with Grand Co Humane Association As-sociation President Barbara Ozment about shelter facil- i ' - -V . . . - . - -x , - ..... 5, " - ' ' " A V; i ' i Dennis White, Field Consultant for the American Humane Association, recently came to Moab to advise City Councilman Jim Wiseman on costs and construction of a humane animal shelter 'in Grand County. While here, he also talked about the roots of Moab's control problem, and what might be done to begin solving it. ities, she arranged the meeting meet-ing with Dennis White in order to provide some expertise. exper-tise. Jim and Dennis discussed discuss-ed the types of faculties that could be built, the cost of adequate shelter facilities, the land required and the administrative admin-istrative aspects of the shelter, shel-ter, once constructed. Mr. White provided plans from which a contractor could estimate esti-mate costs. He commented after meeting with the councilman, coun-cilman, "I think this is great. It is the first time in my experience that government has approached me rather than vice versa." As a field consultant, it is part of Dennis' job to inspect shelters suspected of inhumane inhu-mane treatment of animals. He also said of Moab, "It's tremendous that they're already al-ready thinking about growth problems before the shelter is actually built." Wiseman stated that the study is being based upon a projected Moab population estimate es-timate of 15,000 in 1995, about 3 times its present size. Dog population can generally be estimated to be 6 of a given human population at any time, so facilities must be planned accordingly. By the end of this week, Wiseman will submit his plans to an engineer for cost estimates, and then will report to joint city council and county commission meeting. Myths About Animals White remarked that Moab, and indeed much of the west, is still suffering from some unfortunate myths about animals, an-imals, dogs and cats in particular. partic-ular. Specifically about strays, he said he is glad to find that the town had gotten away from the old Disneyland "peg-leg "peg-leg dogcatcher with a butter- fly net" idea and that the local animal control officer is well paid. However, he also commented that the "a dog should run free" myth was still well in force. He stressed that it is often cruel to let dogs run free, and not only because the animal could be injured itself. Stray dogs tend to find companions, he stated, and soon packs are formed. A pack led by a dog that tends towards aggressiveness can soon cause injury to livestock or protected wildlife, or even human adults and especially children. Necessary, but Desirable? While an animal shelter was deemed necessary to aid in the protection of loose, stray, or unwanted animals, to both Dennis White and Barbara Ozment, dedicated to humane ideals, a shelter is basically a necessary evil. An animal shelter is NOT a solution to Moab's or any other city's animal problems. It is generally general-ly only a temporary stay in the unwanted animal's eventual even-tual execution. Although the euthanization, "putting to sleep," of the animals in the shelter after their prescribed length of stay there is perhaps a better way for them to die than being , shot, trapped, or killed by an automobile, a "sheltered" an- imal still faces death. White stated that on a national basis, J "Roughly 70 of all animals in shelters are killed, 10 are claimed by their owners, and , we can find homes for about 20." American Humane pla- ces emphasis on the fact that control of the overpopulation , of the animals that are com- ', monly house pets could pre- ' vent this basically inhumane death in the first place. "Ir- , responsible pet owners are entirely to blame for the ' overpopulation," said Wliitc. More Myths Other myths about animals J could be behind the overload- ' ed city and county streets here White stated. Although Moab has a very good and J progressive licensing cost dif- J ferential (neutered animals cost less to license), many people believe, incorrectly, that it is better for a female to have one litter of offspring ' before spaying her, or that a neutered animal tends to get fat and lazy. "It's just not true," White said. Neutered animals will not produce un- wanted offspring simply and realistically. Barbara Ozment J commented that hardly a day goes by that she does not receive a call asking her to help find homes for the litter ! of puppies or kittens produced by the family pet "so Susie could watch," or "before we hail Spot spayed," or "because I some stray tnngled with my ' pet." Too many of these unwanted "youngsters" are c doomed to eventual neglect or (lealh. J While added that he figures that between 2.r(M) to :il)()() '. puppies nnd kittens are burn " every HOUR in the United States. He also said that there are only so many people who want pets and they leave a lot of puppies and kittens left over. The goal of the American Ameri-can Humane he said, was to promote ownership responsibility responsi-bility by education, along with animal control. Education Necessary Too Barbara Ozment said she hopes to begin a more comprehensive compre-hensive education program in cooperation with the Moab schools this year. Her plans tentatively also include the formation of a Jr. Humane Association. The American Humane publishes many useful, use-ful, inexpensive books and pamphlets about proper care of pets. If children are taught properly, she stated, they take more time and effort with their animals. And it does indeed take a good deal of time, patience and love to have a well-disciplined and lovine Det. Other Concerns Although the American Humane Hu-mane Association must necessarily neces-sarily devote much time and effort to the most popular pets, dogs and cats, its concerns con-cerns are much more far-reaching, far-reaching, including the area of child abuse. In Grand County American Humane has recently recent-ly been investigating a number num-ber of cases of horse neglect. The severe drought this summer has added to the neglect of livestock Ms. Oz- ment said. Since the proper feed for horses and livestock has skyrocketed in price this year, some owners simply feel they can not afford to buy it for their animals. And, she said, some animals are being allowed to almost starve instead in-stead of investigating the possibility of selling them. Also concerning horses, the recent availability to the public pub-lic of wild horses captured by the BLM was also brought up by both Mr. White and Ms. Ozment. White remarked the Wild Horse Adoption program pro-gram lures many people into obtaining a captured mustang because they do not have to purchase the animal. What the people do not realize is that the horses are often quite difficult to feed and handle, and then the animal is neglected neglect-ed merely because it is not known what to do with it. He also said that anyone observing observ-ing neglect of an adopted wild horse should immediately report re-port it to American Humane, or the BLM, as the k 7Z remains the p government. ll 0T In the meantime, u i( , said that definite problem exist in Moab in the humane treatment T N mals. And the time h ' to change some ways means, as well as tho about the situatio County, a growing nuffife local residents feel. 01 ,s,si M.M MM W w M w .,,rt |