Economy is hitting humane society hard

$5,000 in weekly expenses and increased need creating burden SHOHOLA — “Most animal shelters around the area have closed,” said Sherrie Barnum, who works at the Pike County Humane Society Animal Shelter. All around her were dogs looking for attention in the crowded shelter office. The rest of the shelter compound is just as overcrowded, and it especially has an overabundance of cats at the moment. “We are taking pets from Monroe and Luzerne counties from the shelters that are closing,” added Wayne Barnum, Sherrie’s husband, who volunteers in the shelter doing odd jobs and repairs. Tough economic times have hit many pet owners, and pets are often the first to go when families have problems. Many simply cannot afford to keep a pet. Pet abuse is also on the rise according to the shelter workers, and they think it might be due to frustration. It takes $5,000 weekly to run the shelter, according to its Web site www.pikecountyhs.blogspot.com, and the aid it receives from elected bodies is scant. Pike County Commissioners have contributed $4,000 per year in the past, and many area municipalities contribute something to the shelter, said Director Barry Heim. However, Westfall and Greene townships, where most of the calls come from, contribute nothing. The shelter also receives no help from Humane Society of US, the American Humane Association, or the Pennsylvania SPCA, Heim said. If the shelter closes, there won’t be anywhere for the animals to go. There’s no pound or animal rescue of any kind in Pike County, and the shelter is expected to fill that role without any support, says the Web site. Many volunteers come to help around the shelter. They help both in the running of the shelter and playing with the pets. The shelter is basically in need of everything from food to towels to cleaning materials, to paying the massive vet bills, because in keeping with its open door policy, the shelter accepts all animals, and that means hefty bills in medical care, as well as in the routine vaccinations and examinations. The shelter workers are also busy trying to raise money. They organize events like pet adoption days in local venues, and tricky trays. The shelter also has pumpkins, corn stalks, Indian corn, and mums for sale. Some area businesses have had organized fundraisers in the past, the proceeds from which have gone to the shelter, or some choose an item for sale that contributes $1 for each item sold. Barnum works a full workday, but still ends up putting in volunteer hours because there’s so much to do. “We also have rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, ducks, geese, chickens, and even one mouse,” smiled Barnum. Cat adoption fees currently start from $25, while kittens go for $125. Dog adoption fees vary. The shelter encourages anyone interested in becoming a pet owner to go on to petfinder.com as well as its Web site. In an effort to alert the area to the urgent plight of the last remaining open shelter in the area, the shelter also encourages residents to help in their own way, such as doing their own fundraising, donating food at the shelter, or giving money at many drop boxes in area businesses or through its Web site. According to the Web site, attending municipal meetings and writing to the commissioners or the local elected officials is a good way to make them listen and help keep this vital service to the community running. We may be forced to close too soon, unless we can raise more money.” Barry Heim, director, Pike County Humane Society