Citizens Journal (Atlanta, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 124, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 29, 1990 Page: 6 of 12
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6A Sunday, July 29.1990 Citizens Journal
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Dr. Mark Smithers examines this dog to be sure he's healthy and ready for adoption.
Journal tuft photos by LARRY SUMMERS
Abby Terry show off "Grandpa", one of the cats recently available for
adoption from the shelter.
Animal lovers Ad°P'able friends need homes
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welcome here
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anHanriant °f ,he p"8s ,County Veterinary Clinic shows Cathy Butler and her children, Kyrissia, Carlton
and Danny, some of the dogs available for adoption. '
By VALERIE EAVES
Journal Staff Writer
Don't go to the Atlanta Animal
Shelter located at the Cass County
Veterinary Clinic. That is, don't go
unless you are prepared to have
your heart stolen.
One look at the animals up for
adoption is all it will take. When they
look up at you with those big brown
eyes, their tails wagging in anticipa-
tion, it's enough to break your heart.
These are dogs, and cats, that their
masters apparently didn't care
enough about to give them a good
home. These are dogs, and cats,
picked up off the streets of Atlanta
who have gone unclaimed by their
original owners.
"If the animal has an I.D. tag
when it is picked up, we try to con-
tact the owner," explained Dr. Mark
Smithers, who runs the animal shel-
ter. "If the animal doesn't have an
I.D. tag, he is kept for three days to
give the owner time to come claim
him. After three days the animal is
eligible for adoption."
The process to adopt a pet is very
simple. Just go to the shelter and
ask to see the adoptable pets, pick
one o.ut, and to go the Atlanta City
Hall and pay the $35 adoption fee.
"The adopted animal will be
cleaned, checked by the vet and
receive all necessary vaccinations,"
said Smithers. "If the animal has not
been spayed or neutered, the
operation will be done at no extra
charge."
Smithers said the animal must be
spayed or neutered before it can be
adopted.
"The point is trying to control the
animal population," he explained.
"Spaying and neutering is man-
datory at all S.P.C.A. and Humane
Society shelters across the
country."
The adoption fee has a two-fold
purpose, according to Smithers.
l'he $35 helps pay for the upkeep,
food, shots, health checks and any
thing else the animal needs, and it
also helps put a value on the
animal's life.
"Unfortunately, in today's society,
the amount of valuo placed on an
item is equal to the amount of
money paid for that item," Smithers
said. "If a person pays $35 for a
dog, they're more likely to practice
responsible pet ownership. Animals
are a precious gift from God to
mankind. It even says in the Bible
that a righteous man guardeth the
life of his animals. We have a
responsibility to take care of our
animals, for their health and for
ours, because animals can transmit
diseases to the human population."
Pets adopted from the animal
shelter are checked over by
Smithers himself.
"We'll check the animal over as
best as medically possible to insure
that, at that time, the animal is heal-
thy," Smithers stated.
If someone has lost a dog or cat,
a good place to look for him is the
animal shelter. Atlanta has an
animal control officer, Charles Dun-
lap, who enforces the city leash law
and picks up stray animals.
On Dec. 21, 1989, the Atlanta
City Council adopted an animal con-
trol ordinance. It basically says that
all animals, dogs and cats, must be
either penned up or chained. If they
are running loose in the neighbor-
hood, they can be picked up by the
animal control officer. That's not to
say that if someone is jogging and
has his or her dog along that dog
can be picked up. If the animal is
within voice control of its guardian,
it's okay. The animal just can't be
running loose.
"There are people who don't like
dogs," Smithers explained. "They
have as much right not to have
dogs in their yard as those who do
like dogs have the right to own
dogs. Responsible pet ownership
also means respecting your neigh-
bor's rights also."
If a person has a complaint about
a dog running loose, he or she can
call the Atlanta Police Department.
They'll dispatch Dunlap to inves-
tigate the situation.
"If it's a neighbor against neighbor
thing, I try to talk with the pet owner
and give them the chance to pen or
chain the dog up," Dunlap ex-
plained. "If there's no one home,
and it's the first complaint we've
received, I hang a notice on their
front door knob explaining that
they're in violation of the city leash
law. But, if the dog is running loose
and I can't find out who the owner
is, then I pick it up and take it to the
animal shelter."
Dunlap said he'd rather try to
work out a peaceful solution with
the dog owner than take the dog to
the shelter. He said most people are
cooperative
Dunlap works Monday through
Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.
If someone is missing their pet,
they can call the animal shelter at
796-4137 and describe it. If the
animal is there, the owner needs to
go the the Atlanta City Hall, pay for
the dog's room and board, take the
receipt to the animal shelter and
pick up their dog If the animal has
not been vaccinated for rabies, it
must receive a rabies shot before it
can be picked up.
According to Smithers, the animal
shelter averages three to five adop
table dogs a day, Not only are there
mixed breeds, but all kinds are
brought to the shelter. Smithers said
hes had cocker spaniels, blue
heelers, beagles, and, once, even a
great dane.
There's no telling what breeds
you II find at the shelter on any
given day, but be assured, you'll
find a dog that will give you as much
bve and gratification as you can
handle.
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These six adorable puppies are just soms of the pets available for adoption from the Atlanta Animal Shel- The Butler family looks over the selection of dogs up for adoption at tha «h*u
,er- Veterinary Clinic. #r loca, d t the Cass County
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Citizens Journal (Atlanta, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 124, Ed. 1 Sunday, July 29, 1990, newspaper, July 29, 1990; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth348064/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Atlanta Public Library.