Quote Originally Posted by sasvermont View Post
I suppose your area has houses far apart and so when the dog or cat does wander or is put out to wander aimlessly, it is easy for them to seem lost. I know that in the rural areas, pets are often kept outside and have less than household status on any given day.

That last pup you found surely looks healthy in the pictures. Maybe he/she is just lost? One would hope that the owner would go door to door, looking for the doggie and would eventually the poor thing would be home again. But, if the dog was put out to fend for itself .... no wonder you find so many stays. It seems that they are disposable where you live. You seem to find more dogs than cats. Could that be that cats are oh too often and more easily part of the food chain?

Have you considered opening a 5013c shelter?
I see dogs and cats every day going to and from work. I don't always stop, but if I find one in the middle of the road I will. If I can catch I do, but if not .., well, of course, I don't catch those. Most of the ones I catch do end up at the shelter. If someone has lost a pet, he/she can call the shelter. The shelter puts an ad in the paper for that purpose. I have neither the time nor the money to go house to house, or to run an ad in the paper.

Several times during a year I see a cat or dog carcass in the road going to and fro. I also see raccoons, possums, and deer -- lots and lots of deer carcasses in the road.

Willie: I was sure I would deliver him to the shelter, but delivery to the shelter does not guarantee a good end to an animal. In Willie's case, he has gotten along so well here that I decided to keep him. I know he stands a god chance of having a good life here at Willow Oak.

The last cat I delivered was euthanized the same day -- the reason: he was too wild. I do not disagree with the action taken, but if if I had known beforehand, I would have kept the cat and tried to tame him. I have tamed a "wild" cat before.

I would not be approved for a 501 (3c) animal shelter since we already have one that is funded by the county and the city.