AR-News: (US PA) Local animal shelters contend with challenges to accomplish mission

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

By KAREN CLARK 

Photo by Jerry Sowden - An estimated 1,900 animals are brought to the Venango 
County Humane Society shelter every year.
Raining cats and dogs is a common expression for weather activity, but in 
reality, their population continues to flood local humane shelters. 
There are about 68 million owned dogs and 73 million owned cats in the United 
States. Of those, it is estimated that 20 percent were adopted from an animal 
shelter, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. 
While many millions of pets are adopted each year, millions more die as a 
result of injury, disease and neglect. Sadly, many of the animals would have made 
wonderful companions if they had been given the chance. 
Two local agencies are hard at work providing second chances for stray and 
abandoned animals. 
Venango County 
The Venango County Humane Society was incorporated as a private, non-profit 
organization in 1956. The shelter on Deep Hollow Road, Oil City, was built in 
1971. 
The society employs three full-time workers - manager Kathy Rial, Steve 
Burgdorfer and Sue Morrison - to care for the day-to-day needs of the 40 to 45 
animals typically at the shelter. 
"We are real fortunate to have the staff we have. If a dog comes in and they 
feel it's too overwhelmed at the shelter, they will take it home overnight 
with them," said Joan Loeffler, president of the 20-member elected board of 
directors. 




full story:
http://www.thederrick.com/stories/01262004-1004.shtml



"The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing.",
Albert Einstein

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