As pet moms and dads, our mascots are one of the most critical parts of our lives. There is nothing we wouldn’t do to make them feel loved, comfortable, and happy. It is incredible what we are capable of doing for our trusty companions. Unfortunately, not all dogs and cats have the good fortune of finding a loving, caring home. Every year, thousands of animals wait for adoption in shelters across the United States. Georgia is no stranger to this reality. The Atlanta pet sitters at Critter Sitters invite you to keep reading as we discuss more about whether the Cherokee County Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter.
Does Cherokee Animal Shelter Put Animals to Sleep?
Cherokee County Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter dedicated to finding a loving home for all of their animals. According to their mission, it is not only an open-door shelter, but also one where volunteers and employees strive to be proactive and educate the community about animal care with the aim of saving all animal lives.
While these are strong core values, there are times when even the Cherokee Animal Shelter may need to euthanize certain dogs or cats. For instance, there may be animals who are too aggressive, sick, or too old to be adopted. These are exceptional circumstances that can justify euthanizing an animal. It is worth mentioning that euthanasia, while controversial, is a humane way to relieve animals from unnecessary pain and suffering.
What Do No-Kill Shelters Do?
There has been much debate about what a “no-kill” policy in an animal shelter really means. On one side, some people see no-kill policies as a sign that a shelter might put animals to sleep in a way that doesn’t necessarily entail killing. However, others may see no-kill policies as a marketing strategy for some shelters to attract pet lovers.
The goal of most shelters is to place all their animals into loving homes and avoid having to put animals to sleep. However, this task can sometimes get out of hand due to the number of stray animals around the country. There have been many efforts to prevent stray animals from reproducing at an alarming pace, but these efforts have not been entirely successful. While population control through spaying and neutering animals has helped over the years, stray animals continue to multiply in both urban and rural zones.
As a result, establishing a concrete definition of what a no-kill shelter means is still a work in progress. Nonetheless, different types of shelters can have substantially different policies. For instance, there are animal sanctuaries dedicated to caring for many different types of animals, including dogs and cats. Furthermore, there are open shelters dedicated to taking in any stray dogs and cats that they find. Many of these shelters are no-kill shelters, meaning that they generally won’t kill animals. However, there may be instances where the shelter has no choice but to euthanize animals, an action reserved for severe or extenuating circumstances.
Understanding Stray Animal Overpopulation
Stray animal populations have reached unheard-of levels across the United States. According to American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), every year almost 7 million animals enter shelters across the United States. Out of all of these animals, 1.5 million of them, mostly dogs and cats, are eventually put to sleep in those shelters.
There are many different animal shelters spread across Georgia. Below, we provide you with a list of some of the shelters you have access to, along with their contact information:
Appling County (City of Baxley)
Baxley, GA
Phone: (912) 367-8305
Atkinson County (Cities of Pearson and Willacoochee)
Lakeland, GA
Phone: (229) 561-4188 or (912) 422-3397
Bacon County (City of Alma Animal Shelter)
884 Radio Station Road
Alma, GA
Phone: (912) 632-8316
Burke County (Old Fella Burke County Animal Rescue)
P.O. Box 1437
Waynesboro, GA
Phone: (706) 360-2342
Email Address: info@oldfella.org
Butts County Animal Control
158 Bibb Station Road
Jackson, GA
Phone: (770) 775-8011
Camden County Animal Control (Includes St. Mary’s and Woodbine)
1144 Godley Avenue
Woodbine, GA
Phone: (912) 576-7395
Email Address: jmanning@co.camden.ga.us
Professional Pet Sitters Serving Cherokee County
The professional Atlanta dog sitters at Critter Sitters dedicate all of their efforts to taking care of your pets and providing nothing but high-quality services. Thanks to our many years of experience in the pet sitting business, we are able to provide the love, care, and dedication your pet needs. Whether you have to leave town suddenly on a business trip or are looking for overnight pet sitters while away on a long-planned vacation, Critter Sitters has affordable, convenient options for you. If you wish to learn more about all of the services we offer and how we can help you, call Critter Sitters today at (404) 793-6178.
