A-mila West
The Corsair
When thinking of an animal shelter, people may commonly think of a place where pets can be adopted. People are often unaware of the process lost animals must undergo in these facilities.
On 200 West Fairfield Drive, there is a shelter in which abandoned animals can be bought or adopted, and sadly, euthanized.
On staff at Escambia County Animal Services are two veterinarians, administrative workers, and kennel technicians. Veterinarians are there for immunizations, spaying or neutering and for the aid of sick animals.
“Not only do we take care of those animals that don’t have homes now, but we try and prevent more animals from being generated,” Staff Veterinarian Cliff Owen said.
The administrative staff has the duty of retrieving information from the animals in order to find the correct owner.
The kennel technician’s job is to care for the animals in the kennels.
“Their job is the safety and welfare and the care of the animals while they are here at the shelter,” Owen said.
Each job at the shelter is of utmost importance.
When the animal comes into the shelter there is a process that occurs. The animal is first scanned for a microchip if a collar or tag is not present.
Second, the animal is given a series of immunizations. These include parvo, distemper, K-9 influenza, and bordetella or kennel cough.
Next the animal is weighed. This is done to ensure the health of the animal is maintained at least until an owner is found.
After these evaluations, an intake card is completed on the animal which includes basic information and a photo of the animal.
According to Manager Dusty Clements, after about two weeks (which varies depending on the animal) the animal is evaluated a final time to determine adoption, rescue or euthanasia.
At the Escambia County shelter, kennels can hold up to 218 dogs and 50 cats.
The amount of animals actually brought into the shelter monthly is more than twice the amount able to be held.
The Escambia County shelter is not a “no kill” shelter.
“No kill shelters are kind of a facade in a way. At any shelter there are times you have to euthanize,” Clements said.
The majority of the animals brought into the facility will be humanely euthanized, according to Clements. With numerous animals arriving monthly, the facility must keep open kennels and the only way to guarantee space is to adopt or euthanize.
“We obviously have a problem in this county with spay and neuter; we don’t have proper spay and neuter going on in the county and without that we are never going to get our (euthanasia) numbers down,” Clements said.
According Clements, about 150 dogs and 200 cats are euthanized on a monthly basis at the shelter.
“Although we are not a ‘no kill’ facility, we are a facility that is working towards getting our euthanasia numbers as low as we can get them,” Clements said.