http://www.statesmanjournal.com/art…/1001/news

The Willamette Humane Society next week will begin new policies and fees for people who surrender their pets or stray animals.

 

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Beginning Monday, the shelter will require scheduled appointments for surrendering owned or stray animals. Limited walk-in surrenders will be allowed, but only from 3 to 5 p.m. on days the shelter is open.

The shelter also will begin a mandatory surrender fee to drop off a pet, and it no longer will accept small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, rodents and birds. Owners of these pets will be directed to their appropriate rescue groups.

The final new policy will prohibit the shelter from accepting dogs or cats from counties other than Marion and Polk. Currently, the shelter accepts pets from 11 counties, including Linn, Benton, Yamhill and Clackamas. Residents from these areas will be referred to shelters or rescue groups in their neighborhoods.

Officials said policies are aimed at ending the the shelter’s annual budget shortfalls and allowing the shelter to better serve the Mid-Valley.

“We’re returning to our core mission of offering temporary shelter to adoptable animals,” said shelter executive director Joan Towers.

“It costs us an estimated $250 to admit, care for, treat, spay or neuter, feed, vaccinate, house and adopt out every pet we take in. These new policies will help us maintain our level of service.”

The WHS has encouraged residents to make appointments for surrendering animals to stabilize the flow of animals and to reduce long lines.

But the encouragement has not always worked, so requiring appointments seemed to be the logical next step, Towers said.

WHS communications specialist Kara Kuh said the required appointments also will give the shelter staff an opportunity to discuss other options and resources with pet owners before they arrive at the shelter.

Kuh said that some residents come in wanting to euthanize a pet that just has diabetes or heartworm.

“We can’t care for them here at the shelter, so the pre-surrender scheduling will allow us to counsel these folks and show them that these pets can be cared for at home,” Kuh said

If the staff determines that a shelter surrender is the best option, it will schedule an appointment and advise the owner of the fee structure.

 

WHS will charge $20 to accept a cat; $30 per dog and $40 for a litter of kittens or puppies.

Good Samaritans who call to surrender a stray cat or dog will be advised that there is a $10 suggested donation.

“We receive no funding from the city or county, so it’s important that we use donor funds in the most appropriate ways, Towers said.

Surrender fees are typical at many shelters. For example, David Lytle, a spokesman for the Oregon Humane Society, said the Portland shelter charges $45 to surrender a cat. Fees to surrender a dog are voluntary, with a donation range of $45 to $100 depending on size.

Towers said officials are confident that the changes will eliminate the shortfall while serving only 10 percent fewer animals (those outside the local counties and small pets).

“We recognize that it will take some time for residents to adjust to the new policies, but we have to balance what we can do with our limited resources,” Towers said