“The numbers that we see last month, we usually see over a three to four month span and it all happened within five days,” Canfield said.
By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
An unusually high number of intakes at the Tucker County Animal Shelter has led to an increased financial hit to the County, according to Tucker County Animal Shelter Director Stacey Canfield and Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau. The revelation came as part of a report given during the September 11th meeting of the Tucker County Commission.
Canfield reported that in the month of August, the Animal shelter had 14 cats and 27 dogs, of which 19 were taken in during a five day period. “We were hit really hard last month,” Canfield said. “The numbers that we see last month, we usually see over a three to four month span and it all happened within five days.”
Canfield said that the intake numbers were beginning to drop, however. “The numbers are starting to drop,” Canfield said.
Part of the drop in numbers Canfield said was contributed to the end of kitten season. “Kitten season is definitely starting to slow down,” Canfield said.
Roseanau said that with such a large influx of animals comes a large influx of costs. “With the influx of animals we had at the Animal Shelter, not only placement, its cost,” Rosenau said. “The budget we have currently for the Animal Shelter did not incorporate into it, when we planned for our budget to go in, all of the added expenses we’ve had. So, its blown our budget completely out of the water cause of the vetting.”
Rosenau said a lot of the cost is not only in food and shelter, but in the care and vet bills associated with the animals. “Its not only the feed and the shelter,” Rosenau said. “Its the vet bills.”
Canfield outlined the cost the County has for each animal it takes in. “Immediately upon intake, the minimum we put into any animal is $50,” Canfield said. “And that’s just starting with the basic vaccines. That doesn’t include the two week boosters they need until they are 12 weeks. So the second any animal steps foot through the door, we automatically put $50 into them with dewormer,preventatives, parasite treatment and vaccines.”
Following the initial care, the animals are taken to the vet for a basic screening, Canfield said. “Then they go to vet for screening,” Canfield said. “If they are fixed, they come to us and they are already spayed or neutered, they still have to go to the vet to be medically cleared by the vet. So we’re looking at a minimum of an additional $45, just for an exam.”
Next, Canfield said, is the spay and neuter costs. “If they are not fixed, the cheapest animal that we send in to be fixed is a two pound kitten and they run us $40, even then,” Canfield said. “Anything above $40, you go up to $60, if the cat is six months and older, then you go to $130 to $160 per cat .”
Dogs are more expensive, according to Canfield. “Dogs, the cheapest dog that you’ll see go through is about $155,” Canfield said. “And that is just for the spay and neuter. That doesn’t include the initial $50 when they walk through the door.”
According to Canfield, the total cost of each animal runs the County a minimum of $100 to upwards of $550. “In all reality, its a minimum of $100 a cat is what we see and that includes the little two pound kittens,” Canfield said. “And anywhere from $150 to $550 a dog.”
Canfield said that the Shelter recently had an elderly dog undergo an extensive spay that cost the county over $500. “We just had a dog come through with an extensive spay,” Canfield said. “She was really old and we still had to have her spayed per our guidelines, so just her spay itself cost us $532.”
The Shelter relies on SNIP West Virginia to assist with spay and neuter costs for cats, according to Canfield. “SNIP West Virginia is really, really, really, really helping us out with the financial side if it because every single cat we take is at lease $130, whether its just feral we’re just going to fix and release or its one we are going to adopt out and eventually see an adoption fee back for,” Canfield said.
SNIP West Virginia in Morgantown does very low cost spay and neuter for owned animals throughout the state, according to Canfield. “So SNIP West Virginia wanted me to let the public know that they do owned animals, as well,” Canfield said. “They do not need to feral cats. Only the feral cats are free. But their numbers are very different compared to the local vets around here just because all they do is spay and neuter.”
Canfield said that the Shelter has relied on the Community for donations, as well.“We have really relied on the financial side of donations,” Canfield said.
Rosenau thanked those who have donated their time, money and resources to the Shelter. “I want to make sure its noted how much I thank the people that donate to our shelter,” Rosenau said. “That’s the one thing I like about Tucker County, no matter what the need is, we step forward and we help and so the Citizens of Tucker County, this Commission wants to thank.”
Tucker County Commissioner Fred Davis also thanked the Shelter and their volunteers for their hard work and dedication. “You guys do remarkable work,” Davis said. “Your workers and the people that come up there to help out, tell them from the Commission, that we are very appreciative.”