Animal shelters generally have a positive reputation because they support animals that would otherwise be living, or even killed, on the streets. When walking into a shelter, the smell of animals is hard to miss. Cat fur is everywhere as well as the stench of urine and animal feces. Even though these are things that may turn some customers away, they are not the reason for people to dislike a shelter.
At the Cache Humane Society, there are about 70 cats and dogs that are kept in kennels just big enough to allow for sleeping and eating. The only time the dogs are allowed outside is when the staff cleans the indoor kennels. The dogs are then put in outdoor kennels about four times as big as the indoor ones.
“We rotate half the animals out there and feed them while we’re in cleaning their kennels,” said Alyssa Walker, a manager at CHS. “Then we bring those in after, maybe, 20 minutes and we take the next group out and keep rotating throughout the day.”
The only other time the dogs are let out is when volunteers take them for walks or the public comes in to look at and play with them.
“Some days are very full with volunteers and they are able to take all the animals out and walk them and some days we have almost none and so they don’t get those extra walks,” said Walker.
The cats at the CHS never go outside. Most kennels house three or more cats. The only time they leave that kennel is when someone comes to see them. When their kennels are dirty, they are simply moved to another kennel while theirs is being cleaned. It has been suggested by volunteers that CHS make renovations to improve the living space for the cats so that they may be able to be outside and get fresh air.
Many believe the lack of space for the animals is due to a low amount of funds.
“I think the CHS deals with the area the best they currently can,” said Melissa Armstrong, a stay-at-home mom. “I suspect that they need more employees to take better care of the animals, but due to their non-profit existence, [they] may not have the funds.”
Cameron James, a student at Utah Sate University, believes the CHS is doing the best with what they have. More volunteers could help with rotation but James said that would require more advertisement from the CHS to the public.
“I agree with what they do in general as the Humane Society. [They are] doing the best they can to provide animals with food and shelter that they might not otherwise have. However, I do agree that more area for the animals would be beneficial for them,” said James.
The lack of money could be a reason for the limited amount of space but others believe the shelter could find a better way to deal with the problem.
“I think that the animal shelter has good intentions, but policy needs to change,” said Greg Hunsaker, a graphic design major at USU.
“When an animal falls through the cracks, it exposes the weaknesses of the system,” said Morgan Summers, a graduate of USU. “I believe that if the county is going to take on the responsibility of taking in those animals, they need to re-evaluate the way they run things.”
According to Summers, the animals need to be outside to get exercise and fresh air just as humans do. A better approach to recruiting volunteers could help these animals fulfill this need.
Matthew Nader, a northern Utah businessman, believes the CHS has good intentions and are doing the best they can.
“However, I would argue that they are not being managed properly. I assume that they are underfunded and non-profit. But there are ways to be creative with what you have,” said Nader.
According to Walker, the CHS is doing what they can to improve their shelter but until these developments happen, the animals will continue to live in small quarters.
(s. gregson)
