GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)– The Garrard County Animal Shelter is struggling to keep their euthanasia free policy as animals continue to be dropped off or found. Officials say that for every dog or cat that is adopted, two more come in the door.
The shelter has dozens of animals looking for a home, but that means they’ve been experiencing Cod Red circumstances frequently. Garrard County Animal Control Officer Tiffany Cole says that Code Red is when they no longer have safe space to put the animals in the shelter.
Cole said this keeps happening because of three main reasons: a financial barrier for the cost of spaying and neutering for many, people falling on hard times and no longer being able to care for their animals, and several budget constraints at the shelter.
“To be able to stay at the level that we’re running at and stay euthanasia free, it takes a bigger budget or benevolent donor,” said Cole. “Every day that it sits there, as a person here, you feel like you’re failing that animal. And you’re like, there was one more phone call I should have made, there was one more email I should have made, there was one more Facebook post I should have shared.”
Staff at the shelter is low and volunteers are sparse.
“People get tired of hearing us beg for help because it’s the same people. But it’s the same problem,” she said.
They hope that the community will have a solution for that problem.
If you cannot take an animal in right now, the shelter would appreciate any monetary donations, food donations, or if you would volunteer your time.
Donations can be dropped off at the shelter and they have a drop off box for after hours. You can also donate to Paypal: garrardjudge@windstream.net, or send a check or cash to: GSAC 15 Public Square, Lancaster, Ky 40444. Mark it as donations for supplies or adoption sponsorship.
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