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Changes eyed at Humane Society

12/2/2016

By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer

A shortage of volunteers and financial limitations has the Gateway Area Humane Society looking at some changes moving forward.

The society currently operates a shelter for up to 40 dogs and cats and a spay and neuter clinic at a facility located at 301 Flint Drive in the Midland Trail Industrial Park.

The facility has a manager, Betty Taylor, and three student volunteers to depend on with additional help available at times, society president Pam Reynolds said. She said that’s not enough to keep the shelter portion of the operation open.

Reynolds said the society is discussing accepting fewer animals this winter due to limitations at the facility and focusing more on the spay or neutering clinics.

The society, she said, may then provide further help to the Montgomery County Animal Shelter (also located in the park) and increase the number of spay or neuter clinics it hosts from one a month to two.

The county shelter can’t afford to treat sick or injured animals, so the society is looking at sponsoring care for more dogs and cats there.
No final decisions, she stressed, have been made.

“We love the animals and want to see the best for Montgomery County,” Reynolds said. “At this time we think the route to go is to just do the spay or neuter clinics. We do need volunteers for when we have them. It sure helps us out.”

The Gateway Area Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that strives to find homes for as many animals as possible, it says on its website.
“One of our key tasks is managing pet overpopulation through spay and neuter programs. By spaying and neutering your pet you can take part in helping to reduce the pet overpopulation problem. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pet to adopt, wanting to get involved by fostering or volunteering, need help getting your own animal spayed or neutered or just looking for helpful information, you’ve come to the right place,” the society states on the site.

The society relies on a Paris couple, Zach and Walker Logan, for veterinary services at the low cost spay/neuter clinics. They can perform up to 30 surgeries a day.

The next one is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17. The clinics usually last from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Reynolds said.

A Girl Scout troop helped with the most recent clinic, which is always appreciated, she said. The society encourages other groups to get involved.

Anyone interested in volunteering can reach the society by calling 404-7834. You can also call that number to arrange a time to look at the animals up for adoption.

Flint Drive is located off Midland Trail near Sterling Wholesale and the former Lexington Metals building.

Ordinarily, Taylor is at the facility from about 6-9 a.m. and 3 to 5 or 6 p.m. daily, Reynolds said. She said Taylor has maintained this difficult routine for the past three years.

“She just can’t do it all,” Reynolds said.

The society accepts tax deductible donations year -round. You can mail donations to the Gateway Area Humane Society, P.O. Box 123, Mt. Sterling, Ky., 40353.

Be sure to include your email address so the society can acknowledge your donation and include any matching gift forms from your company.
For more information about the giving program, call the society at the previously listed number.