By Uriah A. Kiser

Published: May 1, 2008

STAFFORD — If you are a stray dog or cat, this could be one of the last places you want to end up, but if you’re a person who has room for a loving animal in your home, this may just be the place for you.

The Stafford County Animal Shelter on Eskimo Hill Road opened in 1991, and though showing it’s age with old water pipes that need replacing, the center is home to 68 dogs and puppies, and 56 cats and kittens, when at full capacity.

“Most people dog-wise are looking for a puppy or they want a small housedog, 20 pounds or less, like a little Yorkie, a little Chihuahua or the little Poodle” said Donna Hart, with Stafford Animal Control. “For cats, kittens are going to be preferred over an adult cat… People prefer a cat that is cuddly and wants to be held, and not sit in the back of the cage.”

Hart said she has worked at the shelter for more than 23 years, and has seen many animals, including a crocodile, bald eagle, peacock and an 8-foot-long albino python come through her facility.

“We do get some odd things in here sometimes,” she said.

The center employs 12 people — six of whom are animal control officers and work in the community, usually responding to calls about dogs running at large, bites and stray animals.

The shelter also accepts animals from owners who no longer want their pets. Hart said they try their best to find homes for the animals, but if one is not found, the animal is euthanized.

“We will keep an animal as long as we can, but when space or temperament issues become a problem, the animal has to be put down, and we let the owners know that before they give them to us,” said Hart. “In those cases, sometimes the owners come back for their pets.”

Ann Lewis and her husband recently moved into the county from Seattle, Wash. Lewis said she is looking to adopt a cat from the shelter, noting they are too cute to pass up.

“There are so many animals that need homes. I think that I can help give an animal a chance,” said Lewis.

Because the shelter is a “kill” facility, Hart said it is harder for them to bring their animals to pet stores for adoption drives. She says pet stores don’t feel comfortable with the county agency telling customers “if they don’t adopt this particular animal, it will eventually be put to sleep.

“Unlike the ASPCA which is a no-kill facility, we are out in the community bringing in stay dogs and cats,” said Hart.

Putting animals to sleep is a reality here, one that these animal-loving employees regard as a necessary evil. Fortunately they say the number of animals at
the shelter has been unusually low as of late, allowing them to extend the length of time the animals stay there.

“We had a dog come in August of last year, and didn’t get adopted until March,” said Hart. “I hate to say that though because I don’t want to give the impression that we have plenty of room here.”

Though the facility has seen an increase in the number of neutered and spayed dogs taken in, summer is the season of cats at the shelter, according to Hart.
During the warm months the facility sees an increase in felines due to overbreeding. They length of stay for cats can go from as long as a month to just seven to 10 days.

Cleanliness of the facility remains a daily top priority, as employees do a “major cleaning” in the morning — which involves hosing everything down, scrubbing top to bottom — and two other maintenance cleanings throughout the day.

“We are constantly preventing the spread of disease here,” said Hart.

A common disease in cats is Upper Respiratory Disease, or URI. It can be transmitted through the air to other cats. In dogs, the workers efforts go to prevent Parvo — a condition that eats away at a dog’s stomach lining.

“We use a lot of water here in this facility, and we often ask the public to donate towels, not sheets — but towels to us, for use in the animal cages,” said Hart.

She said towels are used to clean and dry the animals, and to provide padding and cushioning for their cages.

In March the shelter had 71 dogs that were adopted; 43 were put down. For cats, the shelter was able to find homes for 15, but had to put 36 to sleep.

To adopt an animal from the shelter, people must pay an adoption fee of $20 for dogs or $10 for cats, and sign a contract requiring the animals be spayed or neutered. Hart said a county official follows up on the contract to see the operation is completed.

Adopters must also agree to update the animal’s vaccinations, and live in Stafford or a Virginia county, which borders Stafford.

There are many veterinarians in the area that provide discounts on vaccination services for adopted animals, according to Hart.

To adopt an animal from the shelter, visit co.stafford.va.us/Departments/Animal_Control/Index.shtml or call (540) 658-7387 for more information.