Local animal activists upset with Killeen animal shelter

“No vet care is provided, no bandages, no pain medication, nothing. The dogs are picked up and thrown into the kennel, and the kennel is locked”

Updated: Jan 14, 2008 5:32pm Some local animal activists claim the city of Killeen isn't properly caring for sick animals at its shelter. via KCEN

[Hunto]

Those activists complain when those poor animals that have mange are in the shelter and receive no care. What should happen is put the poor animal out of it's misery if it can't be fully treated with in a couple of days. It takes a year or so to complete the treatment and it would cost the Tax payers a bunch of money. Why should everyone have to pay for other peopls compultion to have an animal and not take care of it. Maybe the owners should pay for getting the animal well again.

[SPARKYJK]

There are new laws on the books to take care of people who do that, let's try and take action against them when ever the Animal Control people pick up a sick animal from them. It just may cut down on the number of sick animal's in the center for one thing and for another it may cut back on the number of people who get a animal and then decide it's too much trouble to care for them.
People also have to be more involved in reporting sick and/or maltreated animals that they know about or have seen around the area instead of turning thier head and pretending not to notice it yet cry about animal abuse when it's reported in the news.
If they can prove the sick animal is thier's, they usually get charged for it's care if it's taken in, that's what the ASPCA does, if Killeen isn't doing that, then maybe they need to start doing it.

[Michaela Ramos]

I was one of those activists who complained. And we took these poor animals with te mange and gave them the medical attention they needed (1st thing pain meds!!!) I took also several others (1 was there for a week with broken limps). The city does not have to do it this way. They have a Vet who offered free care!

[howard crews]

To some extant I agree. Me and my wife got a dog from there that had Kennel Cough. There is another name for it but it is a serious virus. My dog was a small dog that had a some what fear of bigger animals and socialization problems. The big thing was the fact it was a year old and had little manners. First of all we got his cough taken care of. With simple shots that are a yearly thing for dogs. Then we got him neutered.(totally hated the idea) Do I blame the animal shelter. No I don't. They are not set in the proper means to deal with this. Hell during that day we say a puppy with severe mange. Mixed in with a group of healthy dogs. To run a shelter you need a little outside help. Like all these breeders and trainers around here that advertise daily in the classifieds but won't help at a shelter were the behavior of a dog determines its life. As far as the medical attentions. Ramos is correct there are free vets services. There is also shots for your dog being sold at Tractor Supply Company. 5 bucks for a shot. Both cats and dogs shots. On a serious note. I believe it would just do the dogs , cats and any other breed a great deal if some of the money the money that we get taxed for yearly to go to the medical health for the animal shelter. Yet in some ways we are all at fault. If you don't believe me. Have anyone given money to the shelter to get the animals the care they need.? Killeen animal shelter works hard and gives it their all to give their animals a comfortable life.

[Michaela Ramos]

Yes. Just a few simple things. The bad part is, they do have the money. It is not spent. They have donations. There are veterinarians and groups who offered help but were turned away. I saw dogs who had signs of parvo, I offered to pay for the test and it was not done. They put sick and healthy dogs together and put any citizen's dog (some puppies are not 100 % protected even with shots) and recently adopted dog's at risk. It starts with using the correct cleaning supplies(squeegee's! to keep the animals dry which is recommended in the Animal Control Training) and monitoring the dogs for signs of deseases. The city cannot put rules and regulations out for the citizens and not follow them themselves. Pain meds($3 a pill), Capstar against fleas ($2.50 a pill) just simple solutions on an as needed base. Don't let them sit there and suffer like the mange dogs. For what? To be reclaimed by the owner who is to blame for the dogs' conditions in the first place? As long as there are people in the city thinking it is not worth it, it is just an animal, nothing will change.

[howard crews]

You know it wouldn't cost the taxpayers that much money to vaccinate the animals. It would be quite cheap. Oh yeah lets say you had a rash and it took a year to treat. Would you want some to put you out of your misery or treat it. Even though they are human they could make someone a very happy person or companion. Think of it like this what ever your willing to do to an animal could happen to you. I am an owner of dogs and know that even though they can't speak, they can think and feel. Just like us. I apologize if it sounds rude or offensive.

Hunto wrote:

Those activists complain when those poor animals that have mange are in the shelter and receive no care. What should happen is put the poor animal out of it's misery if it can't be fully treated with in a couple of days. It takes a year or so to complete the treatment and it would cost the Tax payers a bunch of money. Why should everyone have to pay for other peopls compultion to have an animal and not take care of it. Maybe the owners should pay for getting the animal well again.

[micha74b]

Howard, there are so many people here who don't see them as something with feelings and thoughts. I am not a resident of the city of Killeen and get blown off sometimes. I can just ask the residents to try and do something about this. Tomorrow, Mar 28 at 11:30 is the next advisroy meeting. Please speak out for the animals.
Michaela Ramos

[howard crews]

what meeting are we talking about. I have to work to provide for my puppies and wife. yet if i know where i could probably set something up.

micha74b wrote:

Howard, there are so many people here who don't see them as something with feelings and thoughts. I am not a resident of the city of Killeen and get blown off sometimes. I can just ask the residents to try and do something about this. Tomorrow, Mar 28 at 11:30 is the next advisroy meeting. Please speak out for the animals.
Michaela Ramos

[Michaela Ramos]

Howard,
the meeting was today. Every month the animal advisory board of the City of Killeen is holding a meeting to discuss issues. It is usually during lunch time. Today was a good meeting. Animal Control acknowledged that relationships with local Vets and rescue groups have to be established (I am sorry DUH!!!) to help the animals, fundraiser were started, a low cost shot clinic will be held April 26 at the city hall and the finally set it up that they can separate sick and injured animals from the healthy ones. They started an account with one local Vet here. They are going into the right direction. It is just sad that it had to be embarrssing for the city and animal control first. We need the citizens of Killeen to step up and voice their opinion. Every time in the beginning of the meeting, citizens have 3 min. to voice their opinion. I was not welcome before because I don't live in Killen. I have to live outside city limits with all them critters. I work full time (all rescue people I know do. the money has to come in from somewhere)I take time off when I can and take care of my critters after work and early in the morning. I know it can be tuff sometimes.
Michaela Ramos

[howard crews]

Thanks for the info Michaela Ramos. Yeah I will probably come to donate. Yet most of my pupps vacs. aren't due for a while. I really would like to attend and help out. I am a busy man but I make time for my dogs. I would love to see the city provide an on site vet for the animal shelter. I think it would help out alot.

[U_S_ Army_NCO]

Last Friday my wife and I where out for a walk and found a small dog running loose on a major road. He came running up to us with no problem and did not mind us picking him up. Had a collar on with phone number so we called the number and left voice mail. We kept the dog over night and after not hearing back from the owner or having any luck other then voice mail, we took the dog to Animal control. Animal control had already gotten calls from the owner looking for the little guy. However, because of the phone number change, the owner got stuck paying $26.00 to get the pure breed dog back. We had posted to Craigs list, and as I said called the number on the tag. Just a reminder to pet owners, if you change numbers and have the old number on the collar, its the same as not having a number. Could have saved you the money.

[Michaela Ramos]

U_S_Army_NCO... thank you for picking up this dog and saving his life.

Howard, I will be there helping out. I will try and order some flyers or something to give out... the benefits of spay/ neuter.... will see. I can ask what they need help with. I will send you a message so you can email me directly.
Michaela

[Michaela Ramos]

Howard, I don't know how to send you a message directly. Just send me an email.
[e-mail]

Michaela

[U_S_ Army_NCO]

Michaela, it was our pleasure to help the dog out. You could tell he was not 'out' long, well groomed and taken care of. The owner told the shelter she was getting ready to talk him for a walk and he took off after something and that was that. I know those address or the phone number tags back in GA cost around 10 bucks at Pets mart, or other retail stores. I urge all pet lovers to get them, also the microchips, my husky is chipped, but that does not help the person on the next block that catchers her...LOL

[Michaela Ramos]

It happens all the time. We get so many dogs in, they do have a microchip but the information is old. Nothing we can do.

[Liz Cripe]

I just wanted to say that my husband and I have looked several times for a dog at the Killeen shelter. Unfortunately, our dog did not care for any of the animals we chose. Not only have I seen the animals at the end of the kennel that were blocked off, I also notice a lack of concern by the staff. During one recent visit, I stopped the staff because one of the outside dogs didn't have any water. He didn't even have an empty water bucket and his mouth was covered in white foam. It was well over 90 degrees that day and I had to find another staff member to see that he got water. Another time, we were actually leaving with a dog and were stopped at our car. It turned out that the dog we were adopting belonged to someone and the kennel was just boarding him. No one seems to know what is going on there. I don't understand why you would work at an animal shelter if you don't like the animals.