Houston County Humane Society faces spike in animal abandonment, calls for action

The Humane Society of Houston County says they are experiencing an epidemic of animal abandonment and that it's the worst they've seen in years.

CENTERVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Humane Society of Houston County says they are experiencing an epidemic of animal abandonment and that it’s the worst they’ve seen in years.

Dee Allison, Director of the Houston County Humane Society, says the personal responsibility of pet ownership no longer resonates with some people, especially after animals started being left at the organization’s front door.

“Basically, not spaying or neutering the ones they’ve gotten,” she said. “Making excuses that they can’t take care of this animal anymore because I don’t have time. They had time to go get that animal in the beginning, making a commitment that this is a long-term situation, and not try to make it someone else’s issue, and they’re just ‘tired’ of taking care of it.”

Allison says her volunteers recently drove up to the facility and found a dog in a crate outside the door. Around 8:45 that night, a couple had pulled in and left their dog behind. Allison says the dog was about a year old and pregnant.

She says it’s not just the fact that animals are being abandoned, but also the cruelty of how they’re being left behind.

“Physically here we get about five to six cases a year,” she said. “They have put them in our dumpster, they have thrown them over our fence, they have tied them up to our fence in the middle of the night. Over a period of time, they have left them at the door… you name a scenario, they’ve done it.”

She says not once did the owners consider how scared the dog was, sitting in a cage for 11 hours. To stop this problem, Allison says laws are needed, particularly ones requiring mandatory spaying and neutering.

“It is against the law for you to take your animal and just dump it,” she said. “That’s not an acceptable situation. Our animal control here in Warner Robins does not take owner surrenders. People need to understand that those dogs that walk in or cats as an owner surrender in those type situations are the first ones to be euthanized. A lot of them are held for pickup, but most are euthanized. They don’t want to do it, but there’s no space.”

Laura Griffin, a volunteer at the Humane Society, says people need to understand that adopting a pet is a long-term commitment.

“You’re their family, those babies are members our family,” she said. “They trust you, love you, and when you abandon them, just to see the way they’re looking for you to come back, and just how sad the animals become when they’re left behind.”

Griffin says there’s one simple solution she believes would make a huge difference.

“If we can spay one cat or one dog, or neuter one cat or dog, and help control the reproducing, that’s one great place to start,” she said.