I agree w/the fact that if you think $35 is alot for a cat, you shouldn't be even contemplating getting one.. BUT for the Humane Society to have sooo many animals there, don't ya think that maybe the pricing is too high? Every week my work donates food there, so I'm not anti-humane society or anything! But the simple fact is, I have a dog and a cat. Last year I went and filled out the application, willing to pay the $$ to help out a poor animal... but not once did I get any kind of response. I even called and I still got, we'll let you know! I have a house, a job, and a big backyard for that dog--- what reason do they have for ignoring me? And they wonder why they're overcrowded!

I think it is a surprise to most people when they find out that owning a pet could cost them thousands of dollars to care for it over the years. The HS should give a list of what to expect for costs over the years... BTW, I just adopted a cat there in Oct. it was $70 "adoption fee" and then another $200 at the vet. Don't forget to license your HS adopted animal or the cops will show up with a $249 ticket. I had it happen with a cat I adopted a year and a half ago.

I'd suggest checking out the following website to see where pet store puppies come from http://www.petshoppuppies.org/ The puppies are purchased on impulse and by anyone who has the plastic or money on terms to buy them not based on their ability to permanently care for a pet. MANY do end up in shelters or rescues. Many more are given to someone else who has the animal for awhile, then passes it on to another.. who passes it on to yet another. Do an online search about Petland before buying.. Also before buying from some who call themselves breeders.

Rescues are seeing the same increases in requests to intake animals for the same reasons stated in the article above. Rescues are run by volunteers who take fosters into their own homes, work with the animal in a variety of areas where they need help and then rehome the animals.

Rock County Humane Society does temperament testing on dogs coming into the shelter. They do contact rescue groups to intake animals that fail their temperament testing. If the rescue agrees to take that dog, the Humane Society then charges the rescue a fee for taking the dog that they would otherwise put down. From personal experience I can tell you of one such dog who failed it's temperament testing at RCHS and went to rescue is now very happily living in a loving forever home and competing in agility. I can also tell you from personal experience that Rescue is contacted by RCHS to intake dogs.. quickly makes arrangements with their "volunteers" to find a foster home or homes for the animal or animals contacted about only to call to set up pick up for the animals to be told they are not getting them now.

This is so sad, I wish I could adopt them all. Poor little babies.

Also.... if you live in the town of Center, or city of Evansville, the Rock Co Humane Society will NOT take your cat. Someone dumped a declawed cat at my house that was OBVIOUSLY an ex housecat.... still had the flea collar... and they refused to take it because the Town of Center does not pay them.

She actually ADVISED me to take it somewhere else and DUMP IT.

So be aware.... Humane Society does not mean they are humane.

By the way, I just gave a fake address a few days later and they took the cat.

I was in Petland *once*.... and witnessed a guy finance a $700 cockapoo (MUTT) for his girlfriend's daughter. The girl was all of 7.... no 7 year old has the understanding of dog psychology to housebreak and train a dog.
I bet that puppy went to the gas chamber long before the guy finished paying it off.
i did ask to see the "regisration papers"..... it was the American Puppy Registry. So really, it doesn't have t be healthy, it doesn't even have to have a breed. It just has to be a.... puppy.
What's more, they had CATS..... freakin KITTENS..... for $250.
I DO have a country home, and no, it doesn;t make it easy. Cat food is expensive. I limit it to 5 fixed cats.

If you can't afford $35+ for an animal, how are you going to be able to properly take care of the animal in the first place? Food, litter (cats), vet care, emergencies? It can get pricey. If you can't afford the adoption price, you shouldn't be getting the animal.
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If someone is looking for a purebred animal, why not check out a purebred rescue? Petfinder.com is a good site. Some animals even come with papers (AKC), some animals are still babies, but most are teenagers and adults. It's an option though. They would also be much healthier than the animals from petland, as these people who foster the purebreds aren't doing it for the money, they're doing it for the love of animals. There's a big difference. (actually, I think it's all volunteer).
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Also, SPAY AND NEUTER please! Check out the statistics of how many animals are put down in a month, simply because there's no room for them. It's very sad. Some animals are still just babies, too.
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To me, my cat IS my child, and I'd do everything in my power to keep her. However, I also realize that the world doesn't see animals as the same as people, and it's not so easy to find state aid to help out with your pet when times get tough.

there are a few no kill shelters in the area, instead of dropping your pets off at the HS, why not try taking them there, drop a few dollars, left over food, toys of the pets so they feel safe exc. at least they may have a chance to live a longer life.
please consider this option

kburton - I will accept that. I see your point of view and respect it. I do know that there are things people can do to not have to give up their animals. Maybe some of them are not trying hard enough... I do feel that some of them really just don't have the means to take care of them though. Thank you for your opinion. :)

Wow, sorry about "complaining" about the price. Just thought they'd rather give the animals away than KILL them. In this economy.
Guess you'd rather that they just keep charging the same amount, when the animals don't get adopted they get killed, put in bags and dumped in the back dumpster.
Guess it's better YOUR way. Sorry to offend you!

stuckhog, I agree with you, but I think you're describing the minority of shelter intakes. I can only assume, but my guess is the majority have other options and just choose not to pursue them first.

I'm sorry I love my dog but if it comes down to it and I have to choose to feed the dog or my kids guess what the dog loses. I know that there are people that are in that boat. I'm fortunately not yet. But honestly all of you dig deep and think of what YOU really would do if you were forced to make the decision between feeding your family with your last $20 or your dog or cat. There are options of course like feeding your pets eggs and rice etc. that would fill them up and be cheaper than dog or cat food.

Pets are not like a toy that you discard when you're bored with it. They're not like a Starbucks coffee that you "give up" when you can't afford it. I understand people are in financial hardship right now, but the pet should be one of the LAST things on the list to "discard". Maybe you need to cut back on cell phone usage, turn off that HD programming, cut back on eating out, start drinking more water and less soda.
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ihavealife, that icing you saw on the store window may be because of the humidity in the store due to water in the fish tanks. I have a similar issue at home (also due to a fish tank) and I keep the thermostat at 70.

Why don't more people take Bob Barker's advice...

chemical_6 - I believe that is a matter of opinion.

If you decide to drop off a pet at the Humane Society, they may never let you adopt again. I know several people who turned in stray animals only to be told several years later that they were "unfit" owners. These people were told they would not be allowed to ever adopt again. Apparently the Humane Society believes putting down animals is a better option than adopting to somebody who, years ago, turned in a stray animal.

Some of you make it sound like these people just dump the animals off and don't care. I know for a fact that it hurts to lose a pet no matter how you lose it. You lose your job, your house, and on top of that you have to give your cat/dog away?!? It's a crappy feeling, and please don't put cat's and dog's on the same platform as children... they are NOT the same. A pet is a pet... loved like family but none the less, a pet. It's hard to give something up that you love, but sometimes that is just the choice that one has to make...

I agree with both of you (best4kids and seabea). The real problem here is that these people should not have gotten the animals to begin with. I understand that you don't know the future and that you are going to lose you job and its hard to plan for that. But my husband and I treat our two cats just as we would our children. If you lose your job, you can't just get rid of you children (besides in Nebraska :). Before you get an animal or have children you need to think of every scenario and make sure you will always be able to afford them.

Really? You think owning a pet is as cheap as just the food? We have an 8 year old lab, and we spend $45 a month on food, plus monthly flea and tick treatments, and three times this year alone we have paid between $200-$300 for vet visits that included yearly checkups, bloodwork, an emergency visit, etc. We love her to death, and to us she is worth every penny, but I can understand how some families that are going through financial woes would find it hard to budget for such expenses.

Times are so tough that people cant affor an $8 bag of dog/cat food? Give me a break. Really? I don't buy it. If your budget is so totally whacked that you can't afford to feed your pet, you got bigger issues than a down economy. If you can't afford the food cause you lost your job, I'll bet you could use your time off by walking round town and picking up discarded cans to buy the $8 bag of food. You would be getting exercise, helping the environment, job-hunting, and feeding your animal all at the same time.

I completely agree with you mommyopes. The Humane Society is a "Not For Profit" organization. They charge for these animals what they absolutely have to. I volunteer at the Humane Society every week and wish I could take everyone of the cats home with me.

mrsjoe and others....

If you are interested, there will be a protest at the Janesville Petland on the 13th from 10am to 2pm.

The pet store I know of in Janesville sells mutts...puggles, labradoodles, maltipoos, and other obnoxious names for in-bred, puppy mill byproducts. And those are on sale for $999.00! Why are these pet stores allowed to sell animals? they legally cannot even screen the potential owners to see if they're capable pet owners!

Once again, why are we correcting someones typos/mispellings? Is the article not about the Humane Society??? JEEZZZZ

Have any of you complaining about the price checked into how much it costs to get an animal spayed or neutered? What the Humane Society is asking is not much compared to what you would pay out of pocket to have it done.

Snofether, I agree. Rather than keep these animals in cages, lower the prices for them. Just because you aren't willing to fork out $120 for a dog doesn't mean you can't afford it. You still have the up-front vet check up bills, the toys, food, the license, etc. Then if you're a renter, you have the additional deposit to pay.
Not to mention you don't know if the animal has any bad habits you may not know about.If they want the animals saved, then help us save them in this economy. Everyone is cutting back.

How much you want to bet that these people who are surrending their pets are still keeping their digital cable?

And BeenThereDoneThat - way to find another example of the Gazette's stellar journalism.

Snowfether, good idea. I think they have done this in the past or have given 2 for 1 specials,etc. But there may be a fear of if a person needs help or a discount to adopt an animal, how will they be able to afford the animal once they bring it to their home? The result could be exactly what this article is about. One idea-spay and neuter your animals!

Perhaps if the Humane Society would cut the prices for pets for awhile, it would help alleviate the overpopulation of these precious animals and give them a nice home whereas many might not be able to afford $35+ for an animal - especially with "give-away" ads in the paper. Just a thought.

Catherine - pets are "spayed", not "spade".

Argh! This makes me so sad. I wish I could adpot every one of them! I already have adopted cats and cannot take in any more. If I had a place in the country I'd probably turn into "The Crazy Cat Lady"!

This is an excellent article. I hope some people can help these animals in these tough times. The Humane Society is a great organization. Please stop here first and look at their wonderful animals before you patronize Petland next to Target. These animals need your help.