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Show HJImJ Fixing pets key to smaller population Prevent a Litter month educates community about responsibilities mrrr TFzz " 7 S, ri-SO) " ""f V ) V 1 0 ' I . C-- -i Af Services. In 1991, approximately 30 percent of these animals were recovered by two Salt Lake County shelters. Though nearly 30 percent of these animals were either adopted or redeemed by their owners. Despite these efforts, there were approximately 92 percent of all strays that were either unrecovered or euthanized in 1991. To increase awareness of pet ownership and responsibilities, the Salt Lake County Animal Services, an organization created to find homes for stray animals, has named April Prevent A Litter Month. The month is nationally recognized as a time "to remind pet owners of the need of spaying and neutering" to control pet off- animal, you spring." PHOTOJonathan Barth the community on pet ownership and responsibilities. TOOMER Chronicle Feature Writer BY JENNIFER Throughout the eleven Salt shelters are thousands of mixed and purebred puppies, kittens and adult Lake Valley animal animals all awaiting adoption. Many of the animals have owners who are aware of their location, but they simply do not want to pick them up. Others are the offspring of strays. There are an estimated 90,000 stray dogs and cats in the Salt Lake Valley, according to Animal care if necessary, Smith said. "The number one solution for pet overpopulation is spaying or should-n't- j Ly'! jr11" ROBERTS Chrony writer has fear and loathing in Seattle, Wash, over spring break returned to Salt Lake night after 12 hours of driving, I did not have the Having non-sto- p opportunity to scour the valley for trivial, yet interesting activities and Northwest. I had never been west of the Great Salt Lake or to Canada before, so I seized the opportunity to accompany my roommate. Mike, on his ski trip to Washington and British Columbia. Although I've only been skiing once, M : time checking out Vancouver and Seattle. Even though MTV and Rolling Stone would have us believe that Seattlites wear nothing but flannel shirts and spend their time emulating the current grunge-god- s. Vrltsr at Lares ensure an animal's welfare after it leaves the enjoyed the trip, I had several preconceived notions destroyed during my travels. First, I discovered that through Wyoming clearly does not have a monopoly on boredom. through Idaho is straight stretches of highway through treeless wasteland broken up only by potato towns and truck stops patronized by truckers catching up on the latest issue of Outlaw Biker and crazed senior citizens from Utah spending their old age pensions on scratch-an- d win lottery tickets. Fortunately, I was able to alleviate the boredom by fantasizing about our upcoming arrival to -- Couer D'Alene, a cemented in my only as a haven f2 JJj PBiwwwfMJscrA. xw hhi ntNerS place irrevocably mind as existing e for militant neo-se- Jl jl I Kk UHtr tk tvt Vtit cwi)Vi) si vaY (kt 0oodigtwtiiyMapl1 I "Roberts" on page seven t mMii no oo brauQht foot own? irsa I figured I could ski a couple days and spend the rest of the by Jim Jim's Journal "You recounting the events experienced over my spring break trip to the Pacific shouldn't own one. To to people. So, I'll resort CHAOS Z&J L. struggle to survive. However these animals actually have a slimmer chance of survival on the streets than in a shelter, where they receive nutritious food and water, are bathed and groomed and receive veterinary to survive on their own, may shelter, Animal Services requires starve to death John Moore said. all animals be or be killed by people, cars, or in fights with sterilized and prospective parother animals. They may carry ents be interviewed prior to all diseases or become viciously adoptions. Shelter representatives check feral, Smith said. Often strays breed too closely an owner's previous record of and produce offspring with pet ownership, the number of severe birth defects, Sean Moore, people in the home where the a kennel attendant who must animal will live and whether or also euthanize the animals, said. not there is adequate restrained space for the animal. Recently, Moore euthanized a litIf there are children in the ter of eight kittens who all shared one body. home, the shelter recommends "It looked like one big body children spend time with the animal in the "get acquainted" with eight heads, tails, and sixroom at the shelter to ensure har-se- e teen legs. It was awful," he said. take "neuter" on page eight place Although adoptions -- CHAOS b,w8M Shelters, Smith said. There are many fallacies about stray animals, she added. Many people believe that feeding stray cats and dogs helps them in their one," ,i; own, u Animal Services Assistant Director offThese forced if spring, CHRONICLE of the hour, between 200-30- 0 animals are euthanized every morning in the Salt Lake County neutering," she said, adding education is the most powerful tool for Animal Services' Prevent A Litter Month. Two representatives from the shelter visit public schools to educate children about the endless responsibilities involved in owning pets. Tours or field trips overpopulation, according to to the shelter are also offered to Julie Smith, public relations and public schools as an educational media coordinator for Animal tool to increase awareness. Services. People must know that it costs much more than the $15 adopThe problem has neared epidemic status, she said. "For tion fee to own a pet, Animal example, if you allowed two cats Services Assistant Director John Moore said. "If to breed for 10 you don t nave years, tnose two "If you don't have time to invest in cats would proan animal, you duce over 80 time to invest in an million Many animals like this dog are available for adoption at local shelters. The month of April is Prevent a Litter Month and will educate at the animal shelters every half -- R03 That night Stan would hava a Mtarawaat rtaliiation. iJ I mm kSi'iJ.tUffltr, Affftr Kt left, X U4 Ttf tkut l TV. ( |
