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Therefore, the fifteen plus volunteers at the
shelter are still performing their duties behind locked doors.
While the general public is not currently permitted to just drop in
at will, the society is also still promoting pet adoption and
following up on adoption applications.
According to Wanda Stevens, who is an ever constant volunteer along
with Mary Dowdel, the shelter has seen no increased interest in pet
adoption due to the stay at home rule, but she thinks it would be
good for people to think about it.
Pets are a valuable asset to a family and especially
to those who are living alone. They provide companionship, they are
excellent listeners (especially dogs) and they are also much attuned
to the well-being of their human counterparts.
There are many stories of how that pets drew attention to health
emergencies and how they loved and cared for their human until help
did arrive, giving comfort and showing concern.
Pets are used in special scenarios such as therapy dogs for those
who are in the hospital or a managed care facility because they are
uplifting and engaging when we are lonely and blue.
They also promote exercise in their humans,
because after all, when you have a dog, you need to walk the dog.
Cats, while they often appear to be more aloof, are also very
territorial. They don’t appreciate people coming into their home if
they don’t belong there.
They love to play and be played with. They are great at helping
filter out the bad in the world by laying on the newspaper or
walking across the computer keyboard. But,
when it’s a quiet evening, they are also great lap warmers, and if
you are really good they may even sing you a song.
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column] |
Animals add so much to our lives. The volunteers at the HSLC Shelter
understand that and welcome the opportunity to bring people and pets
together for that perfect pairing.
Stevens said that the adoption process is not terribly difficult.
When someone comes to the shelter they do fill out an application to
adopt, and there is a casual background check, verifying where the
adoptive parent lives; if they rent, is the landlord okay with a pet
in the home, and if they own other animals do they have a history
with a local veterinarian.
The prospective pet parent meets the animals, and if they are lucky
an animal will warm up to them and a pairing will occur.
Ellen Burbage, who is the President of the HSLC Board of Directors
and a long-time volunteer, noted in an interview for the LDN Animal
Stories magazine that while people may think they choose a pet, the
opposite is more often true. Animals choose their people. The animal
response to the person is what leads the person to believe he or she
made the affirmative decision.
Stevens calls this the “gut feeling.” Watching people and animals
interact, she can see who is going to be a good pet parent and who
should perhaps give it a little more thought before adopting.
In the adoption process, there is time to think. Stevens said once
the initial decision is made, there is a 24-hour wait for the
adoption to be completed. She said this is the time that the person
adopting has a chance to re-think their decision and be certain that
it wasn’t made on an impulse.
Impulse adopting is something that the HSLC does not want to
encourage. It’s like buying bunnies or chicks at Easter time. Sure
the babies are cute, but they are going to grow up, and then what?
In the same way, yes, you may be at home right now and have time to
shower a pet with plenty of attention, but what about when the
stay-at-home is lifted? Are you sure you will have time and energy
to have a pet?
On the flip side of the coin, now is a good time to adopt because
people are home. Bringing a new animal into the home comes with some
challenges. Getting the pet acclimated to the physical home, what is
going on inside and outside, where the potty box and food dishes are
located, and more; all tasks that need time and extra attention from
the new pet owner.
But that too is a good thing, because instead of binge eating in
front of the tv or computer, you’ll be paying attention to your new
pet and its needs.
So, if a new pet has been on your mind for a while, now it could be
the perfect time to act. To get things started give a call to the
Humane Society of Logan County at 217-737-4042 on Tuesday, Thursday
or Friday between noon and 5 p.m. Visit the HSLC website to see the
adoptable animals available now -
https://hslclincoln.org/ hslc-adoptable-pets/ and start the
ball rolling. We’re betting there will be a kitten at the shelter
that is more than happy to chase it!
[Nila Smith] |
