“Dogs have owners, cats have staff.” — Anonymous
The Shawano County Humane Society annual banquet and fundraiser, one of my favorite events of the year, will be held Feb. 22.
The society was formed in 1991 by a small group of animal lovers who saw the need for a more humane way to handle stray and unwanted animals. The 5,500-square-foot shelter is at 1290 Jaycee Court in the industrial park. A large outdoor run, complete with a roof and retractable sides, make it one of the finest shelters in the state.
The shelter could not exist without the generosity of those who make donations, big and small. Some remember the society in their wills. The annual banquet helps with the high costs associated with operating a shelter. Volunteers are important, and thankfully there are kind and caring animal lovers who give of their time to care for these lonely/homeless pets. New volunteers are always welcome.
In 2013, the Shawano Police Department responded to 362 animal related complaints. Reports of stray animals accounted for 226 of these calls. Although I realize there are times a dog can get away accidentally by breaking a leash or chain, or a cat can sneak out of the house, some animals are intentionally let loose to fend for themselves. The fine for a dog/cat running at large is $187 for a first offense.
Dogs and cats must be licensed, according to Wisconsin Statute 174.052. Licenses are available at City Hall for pets located within the city limits. The annual cost is $10 for a male or female, and $4 if it has been neutered or spayed. The citation for failing to have your animal licensed is $187. The number of dogs and cats is regulated. Except for kennels, no household shall have more than three dogs and three cats more than 5 months old.
The Police Department also receives calls for neglect/abuse of animals. Our community service officers follow up on those calls. Often neighbors or passers-by will notice an animal with no shelter or food/water. Pets are left in cars in the heat of the summer. Sometimes there are visible indications the animal has been mistreated. Some of those cases lead to filing criminal charges with the district attorney.
Our animal friends love us unconditionally and are always happy to see us. I once heard a saying, “If heaven doesn’t allow pets, I don’t want to go.” I thought you might enjoy this heart warming story:
A man and his dog lost their lives in an accident. Soon after, they found themselves walking along a road. After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, there was a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he stood before it, the man saw a magnificent gate in the arch made from mother of pearl, and the street that led to the gate was made from pure gold. The man and dog walked toward the gate, and as they got closer they saw a gate keeper.
When close enough the man called out, “Excuse me, where are we?”
“This is heaven, sir,” the gatekeeper answered.
“Really? Tell me, would you happen to have some water? We have traveled so far,” the man said.
“Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought to you,” the gatekeeper said. “But don’t bring your dog; we don’t accept pets.”
The man thought a moment, remembering all the years this dog remained loyal to him and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going. The dog faithfully walked by his side.
After another long walk he came to a plain dirt road that led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.
As he approached, he saw a man leaning against a tree and reading a book.
“Excuse me!” he called to the reader. “Do you have any water? We have traveled far.”
“Yes, there’s a pump over there. Help yourself. There’s a bowl beside it for your dog,” the reader said.
After they enjoyed a drink of cold water, the traveler said, “What do you call this place”?
“This is heaven,” said the reader.
The traveler replied, “The man down the road at the golden gate said that was heaven, too.”
“Nope, that’s not heaven, that’s hell,” was the reply.
“Doesn’t it make you angry they use your name like that?” asked the traveler.
“Nope. We’re just happy they screen out the folks who’d leave their ‘best friends’ behind.”
See you at the banquet!
The answer to last week’s trivia question — Who was the principal of Olga Brener School in 1987? — is Harvey Steffen.
This week’s question is: Who is the president of the Shawano County Humane Society?
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