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Adopt-A-Pet: Luke and Dottie

By Billie Owens

My name is Luke and I'm a poodle/Labrador retriever mix, obviously quite adorable. I am a neutered male that they sent up North in hopes of finding a better life than the one I had down South in, of all places, Mississippi.

Children delight me and I like big people, too. I have good manners as evidenced by my nice leash behavior and my complete housebrokenness. I'm still puppyish (read: young and excitable) so playtime is important. I'm crate trained. Find me in Kennel 15. 

If you are nice and responsible, please consider adopting me. My name is Dottie. I'm a retired, single mom. My last humans let me have countless kittens before dumping me and my most recent litter at the shelter door one cold evening.

Well, I've decided to be much more particular about my next owners, so these are my requirements: I'd like a bed and regular food and water. Oh, and I insist you obtain a good brush to use on my head, cheeks and back. I have never owned a toy in my life, but I'm willing to give the leather micey-ones a try. They smell good.

If you think you're qualified, please come in so that I may meet you. I'll be conducting interviews during regular shelter hours in Cage 87.

Volunteers For Animals
PO Box 1621
Batavia, NY   14021
www.vol4animals.org <http://www.vol4animals.org>

Working in partnership with:
Genesee County Animal Shelter
3841 W. Main Street Road
Batavia, NY   14020
(585)343-6410

Adoption Hours:
Sunday - Friday 1 - 3 pm (closed on Thursdays)
Wednesday 7 - 9 pm
Saturday 11 - 1 pm

Adopt a New Friend at the Genesee County Animal Shelter

Ann Marie Docking

You know what is really sad? Is the fact that I tried to bring a kitten to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and they said no! that they had to many cats there. This kitten was found during a class reunion weekend wandering around by itself. My friend tried to take it home with her but her husband said no more cats... so I offered to take it for a while.. Well I have allergies and could'nt keep her. So I brought her to the Genesee County Animal Shelter and they turned us away!!!! Thank God that my friend is humane and took this poor baby in. What is up with this? How do you bring a poor stray into this "Animal Shelter" Is this really an Animal Shelter? I was treated so rudely that I said that I would never leave an animal in their care ever again? HMMMM...Did you ever try to bring a stray animal there?

Dec 2, 2009, 10:26pm Permalink
Kim Grant

I wasn't treated any better when I tried to take two strays to them a few years back. I called to let them know that I had caught two strays hanging around my yard. They tried to make me feel bad for not keeping them, which I did feel bad but I couldn't take more. I had already adopted 4 cats from the elements. When I got upset and said something like "Should I just take them out back and shoot them?" They replied, "Well, we really can't stop you if you decide to do that." That let me know that they didn't care a rats behind for the animals.

Dec 3, 2009, 10:16am Permalink
Wendy Castleman

The GCAS is a municipal shelter - we are not allowed to take in more cats than what we have cages for at any time. Years ago, the Shelter took in any and all animals and then euthanized the ones that were deemed unadoptable, sick, injured etc. Currently the county does not euthanize all unwanted animals for the public. It is a very difficult situation that is not easily solved. There are way too many cats - there is no shelter that can take every homeless cat and keep it until it is adopted. Some shelters except all cats and have high euthanisia rates, some take in many more than they can handle and are overrun by cats, and some must turn people away (like the GCAS). We are a small shelter with a small group of very dedicated volunteers and 2 Animal Control Officers that help a great many animals in this county. We are committed to doing the best job possible with the resources we have available. I am sorry your experience was negative. We are volunteers for a reason and it is extremely difficult to turn people and animals in need away. This is a wide spread problem and cannot be solved by one little shelter.

Dec 4, 2009, 8:41am Permalink
Ann Marie Docking

Ok Wendy.. I understand this but what do you do when you find a KITTEN not a sick or hurt? And Who or Whom decides what aniamls are going to be accepted? Why do you call this an animal "shelter" if you can only take a select few..And WHY doesn't someone help you with alternatives instead of turning you away.. I adopted a kitten from the GCAS 5 years ago and he is my heart. I went through all of the expectations that they wanted..Had him spayed, shots.. everything possible and he is my best friend right now so I thought that this poor little kitten would get the same treatment..WRONG.. In Rochester they have a program called Grasp who recruits people to foster these animals and get them spayed, neutered, shots. What is wrong with Genesee County trying to do something like this? I am just appalled at the fact that when an animal is found here that caring pet lovers can't bring it to a safe place and get some help instead of being RUDELY turned away. I left there in tears that day after the way that I was treated. UGH!!!

Dec 4, 2009, 11:04pm Permalink
Dawn Callari

As far as the Genesee County Animal Shelter goes, the animal control officers make the decisions as to whether to accept animals. The shelter does not accept animals for euthanasia, so intake is limited due to space as well as the time needed to care for the animals. Taking in sick animals can be a problem since disease spreads quickly in shelter environments.
Lollipop Farm is about the only alternative if "no kill" shelters are full. Please remember that it isn't shelters that are the problem, it is the people who abandon animals that put cats and dogs in the situation of being homeless. Shelters are doing what they can but they can't solve the problem.

Dec 12, 2009, 6:57am Permalink

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