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Franklin County Humane Society in the News
2010
August 9, 2010 Franklin County Humane Society (FCHS) is currently the target of a smear campaign using the internet and Local and Federal authorities are being contacted. Persons who have concerns or questions are welcome to call FCHS at (636)583-4300 and leave a phone number where they may be reached by a manager. FCHS is an independent, privately run animal shelter serving animals and people in POSITION STATEMENT: COUNTY FUNDING OF CARE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY STRAYS
In a recent story by Evan Fritschle, titled County Says No to Request for Animal Shelter Funding, it states that in past years, the county has paid the shelter for receiving animals and has been attempting, since 2002, to establish a contracted service with Franklin County Humane Society (FCHS). We have indeed approached the County several times to establish a contract. In 2008, the County brought us and paid for three animals. That year we boarded another 1,004 strays from citizens of the county, not paid for by the County. The County’s proposed contract with us was rejected several times for this reason – the contract doesn’t address the real problem. The County wants to contract with us for only the dangerous or the very few they seize for abandonment, abuse or neglect, but not all the other thousand abandoned animals. In 2009 citizens brought in another 723 animals from unincorporated It is a fact that we asked for more money, because the contract only provided for $250 a month plus boarding for the three stray animals in 2008, when the value of boarding the 1,000 other animals was $95,000. A Commissioner states in the article that the owners of the animals should be responsible for their activities. That’s the problem. While about 15% of stray animals are returned home to families, the rest of the thousand animals don’t have identifiable owners, and become the community’s problem, made worse by a bad economy. While the County is empowered to establish or contract for stray animal boarding to comply with Missouri Law, it is not required to do so because the County is unincorporated. The incorporated cities in We continue to perform this service for the greater good, to help the lost pets get home, and to reduce breeding of animals no one wants. This also serves to reduce nuisances, car accidents, harming of livestock, disease and suffering of animals. If the county could do its share of helping with the cost of its strays, like the cities are doing, we could ultimately cut down by as much as half the animals that anyone has to contend with, take care of, or pay for. A Commissioner states that the funding we requested could provide another 2 to 3 jobs at the County level. When used at our shelter, it helps fund the employment of 16 people most of whom are paid close to minimum wage, and none of whom receive any benefits or health insurance as a County employee would. As a small business in We are so grateful for the cities understanding the problem of stray animals, and for the citizens who make donations to support our work. Thank you for allowing us to clarify points made in the article.
Karen Tudor, Executive Director
Franklin County Humane Society
1222 West Main St. Union, MO
636-583-4300
We thank The Missourian for permission to reprint this letter to the editor.
What Is a Humane Society? Many people misunderstand. Read the discussion in The Missourian below.
Letter to the Editor of The Missourian Newspaper Humane Society's Other Agenda By Robert Willoughby, Robertsville 04/30/2010
FCHS Response
Dear Missourian Editor,
Franklin County Humane Society (FCHS) would like to thank the writer of a weekend editorial for exposing the common misconception that all Humane Societies are related, commonly funded, and share the same objectives. The editorial, titled “Humane Society’s Other Agenda” might also have been titled “OTHER Humane Society’s Agenda,” regarding the Humane Society of the The term “Humane Society” is a generic term, like facial tissues is for Kleenex or Puffs, or “Airline” is for Southwest or Continental. Franklin County Humane Society is a small, independent not-for-profit organization which runs an animal shelter in Franklin County Humane Society’s mission is to promote humane treatment of all animals and to reduce both pet overpopulation and the resulting euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets. At FCHS, we do not have any public agenda with farmers, hunters, or anyone else. We do share the concern that most other Humane Societies have regarding puppy mills and the neglect these animals endure. We also strongly encourage spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens, because we see them all come to our doors. And while other, more well-funded organizations do perform animal investigations, we do not, nor are we deputized to enter private property or seize neglected or abused animals. This is the job of local law enforcement. We have no time for a political agenda – we’re busy, each year caring for about 3,000 to 4,000 lost, abandoned or unwanted dogs, puppies, cats and kittens, returning them home and adopting them out. We help people spay and neuter their pets at a low cost, at no profit to FCHS, and we help owners provide Identification for their pets in case they become lost or stolen. We board animals for local city animal control because they cannot afford to establish and operate pounds. Animals go back home to their families because there is one place to come look for their pets and file lost pet reports. Your Franklin County Humane does NOT have millions of dollars to fall back on, does NOT receive any direct tax money, and runs your local animal shelter at an operating loss each year. Said another way, While the writer points out that less than 1% of funds donated to the Humane Society of the US help shelters, when you donate to the Franklin County Humane Society, 100% of funds go to our independent, privately operated animal shelter right here in Franklin County, Missouri – nowhere else. The writer suggests a campaign to encourage the HSUS to spend more on shelters and less on activism. Efforts by many shelters and rescue groups to enourage this have been unrewarded, as yet. We’d love to see the HSUS fund all the shelters. Unfortunately, that's kind of like asking one city to fund another city's budget shortfall, or asking Habitat for Humanity to fund Loving Hearts Food Pantry. Please DO communicate with your county and city officials regarding the importance of taking in strays (this is required of incorporated cities by Missouri law) and funding the local stray animal boarding we do so that we can continue to perform this service for our citizens and the local animals in need. If you are concerned with how the money you contribute is used by these national organizations, please consider supporting your local organization - come see the Franklin County Humane Society animal shelter and take a tour, ask any questions you like. Your Franklin County Humane Society is open to you, we live where you do and have similar values. Come visit us! We're also on the web at www.franklincountyhumanesociety.org. Thanks again to the writer and The Missourian for allowing us to address these issues. Sincerely, Karen Tudor, FCHS Executive Director Thank you to The eMissourian for permission to reprint.
2009
IN OCTOBER:
IN AUGUST
Reviewing shelter income and expenses over the last few years, FCHS directors realize that their ability to keep a shelter in operation in the year to come is seriously jeopardized. Therefore the Board requested (as it had back in 2002) that the Franklin County Commissioners provide funding for the lost and stray animals taken in from unincorporated areas of the county. We want to share the presentation with you, our supporters.
August 6, 2009 Presentation to Franklin County Commissioners
2007:
FC Humane Society Receives Grant from Pedigree and the American Humane Association
Franklin County Humane Society was selected to receive a PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive™ Grant from the American Humane Association. FCHS received $4,000 to purchase and install commercial-grade ventilation equipment and HEPA air filters for the animal housing rooms. The installation of this equipment provides cleaner air for the animals, lifting or filtering out odors, airborne cleaning agents, viruses and dust and dander that can cause health problems in the animals housed there. This also eases the load on the HVAC system and makes the shelter more pleasant for animals and humans alike.
The PEDIGREE® Adoption Drive™, which took place in February, 2007, was designed to encourage dog adoptions. Leading pet food manufacturer PEDIGREE® matched $250,000 in donations to American Humane, which has awarded many grants to shelters and rescue groups across the country. Grant recipients are using the much-needed funding to purchase equipment and undertake projects that improve the quality of life for animals in their care and encourage adoptions.
Founded in 1877, American Humane Association is a national organization that develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit organization raises awareness about the link between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane is behind the “No animals were harmed”® end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.
Pedigree® is the number one brand of dog food in the world, offering a wide variety of products for different dog life stages, and is at the forefront of pet nutrition and pet and owner needs by providing a range of innovative products and resources. The brand is owned by Masterfoods, USA’s Mars, Incorporated operation, which also owns Snickers® Brand, M&M’S® Brand, Uncle Ben’s® Brand and WHISKAS® Brand food for cats.
FCHS is an independent, privately run nonprofit animal shelter serving resident animals and people in Franklin County. It is funded only by fees, fundraising events and private donations. FCHS receives no municipal tax support or funding from other national organizations like HSUS, ASPCA or United Way. FCHS currently receives roughly 4,000 animals from the community annually. FCHS provides health care and housing, adoption programs, spay and neuter programs, lost/found assistance, and municipal animal control boarding. In its fifteen year history, FCHS has taken in approximately 75,000 animals. |
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