(Continued from Part One)
SFAHS Special Events Coordinator Allison Wyant explained that microchipping a pet does not provide a GPS locator on the animal, but if the shelter receives an animal that has a microchip, they have equipment which can read it, and the owner can be contacted. But even with dogs and cats that do not have microchips, Wyant said they “encourage people to come in and look for missing pets.”
She also explained that people with lost animals can start the process of finding them by filling out a “missing report” online at sfhumanesociety.com, under the programs tab.
But one of the most impressive things about the SFAHS, especially to animal lovers, is their “no kill” policy. Wyant said that the shelter has adopted this policy for “breed, time and space.”
This means that the SFAHS will not euthanize animals because they don’t like the breed, they are running out of space, or if the animal has been there beyond a certain number of days. However, if an animal is a danger and has been court-ordered to be put down, or if an abuse or neglect victim is too ill to survive, some animals may have to be euthanized.
However, these are exceptions, not rules. The rule is that the SFAHS is a “no kill shelter,” Wyant said.
In fact, the organization goes so far to help animals, that they may send them to other “rescue” operations, as they did with Wally the pig.
Wyant, Baade and animal control officer Andy Oestreich all talked about the story of what they described as a “giant pig” that wiggled its way out of the back of a semi, apparently headed for Morrell’s (Smithfield) in March of 2017.
It seems the person in the vehicle behind the truck watched the animal free itself, fall out of the truck and walk away. The driver then called the SFAHS and they “wrangled” the pig back to the shelter, where they took care of him and named him Wally.
In keeping with their no kill policy and not wanting to take Wally to a slaughter house, Baade said that he was given to Soul Space Farm Sanctuary in New Richmond, Wis.
Wally is still there today enjoying his new life.
Now, to celebrate Wally and 100 years-worth of other success stories, the SFAHS will be celebrating their 100th anniversary during the week of Sunday, June 23 through Sunday, June 30.
While most of the events will be open to the public, there are a few things scheduled for their donors and their over 400 volunteers. The events for everyone include a microchip clinic on June 23, a movie night ($4 admission) on June 24, which will be part of a free-will small animal adoption that will allow people to adopt small animals and pay as little or as much as they can afford. Wyant said this event will include kittens for the first time. Wednesday and Thursday, June 26 and 27 will see the same free-will adoption for dogs.
And what celebration would be complete without BINGO? On June 28, festivities move to Burnside BINGO for a fundraiser from 5:30 to 9 p.m. On Saturday, June 29, there will be free tours of the SFAHS facility from 1 to 4 p.m., and the events will end Sunday, June 30 with a free-will donation Kiddie Carnival in the SFAHS east parking lot.
But before or after the 100th anniversary, people who might be interested in donating their time are encouraged to become volunteers at the humane society.
The time commitment for volunteering can be as little as 4 hours per month. Wyant describes SFAHS volunteers as the heart of the organization.
People can learn more about volunteering, adopting and other SFAHS programs at their website, sfhumanesociety.org.
