Pike County Humane Society is broke
SHOHOLA — Rising costs and revenue cuts are now endangering the lives of hundreds of pet animals at the Pike County Humane Society (PCHS).
Director Barry Heim says, “We only have enough money to stay open at the most three weeks. Then we will close our doors.”
Heim explained that, ”In the last year we have taken in 50 percent more animals due to the economy, because people are losing their jobs, their homes, and end up having to move to places where the landlords don't allow animals.”
Heim knows that should the PCHS close people who can't care for them themselves for a variety of reasons, will abandon their animals go to run through the streets, There will be feral cats and packs of dogs running free in an area where rabies is endemic.
The Pike County Humane Society was founded Sept. 6, 1963 and will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary next year if they can remain open.
Heim said Governor Rendell took $4.1 million dollars of money collected from the sale of dog licenses to help balance the budget. This caused the loss of 13 Dog Wardens across the state who have not been replaced. There are only 37 to 40 dog wardens. Dog wardens enforce the animal protection laws, make sure animals are licensed, and have other duties which all bring in needed funds.
There are 66 counties in PA, with approximately 47 animal shelters to serve the entire state.
Heim has been operating the PCHS for 14½ years and in that time he and society volunteers have adopted out over 8,000 animals. “Spaying and neutering is the only answer to the overabundance of domestic animals in Pike County. We want to be able to offer inexpensive low cost services to help with this need but we need financial help,” Heim explained.
Heim said donations are down over $30,000 this year and the previous year they were down over $27,000. It costs over $26,000 a month to operate the shelter and their bills and other expenses are always rising, while income is always decreasing.
“We have a 93.6 percent adoption rate for dogs over the past five years. If we close and no other shelters are willing to take our animals they may all have to be euthanized.
If just everyone in Pike County gave just $1 we'd be able to do our work and pay our bills,” Heim said.
He asked that those learning of the problem send whatever tax deductible donation they can to help the PCHS keep its doors open to:
Pike County Humane Society, POB 255, Milford, PA. 18337 or donate on line at www.pikecountyhs.blogspot.com .
— Jerry Goldberg