page 3B/The Battalion/Thursday, October 27,1983 Shelter gives strays a chance by Susan Poole BaitelioM Reporter The kennel at the Brazos Aniinal Sheltef Inc. is a maze of chain link cages neachihjg to the ceiling bur ncr wider and longer than a bathtub. In one of them a black and tftn botrtrd with large, soulful eyes vests on nis {>aws. A ‘‘ready U> Sigfr hangs on where a an- jtintisly wiggles artd wags its tail. Other dogsehttply lie in their cages, sleepily raising an eyelid the gate of ariotlier cage whe small chihuahua-like dog when someone passes. Most of these stray and aban doned dogs will be claimed by their masters or adopted by new •masters, but some of them will end up being put to sleep. The stray and wild animal population is a problem that ev ery city faces. . „ - Unfortunately, most pet dogs that are lost or abandoned by their owners end up beiny hit by cars or become too starv d or diseased to survive, Kathryn L. Ricker, head of the shelter, said. In some cities the number of BOS BROWN «WflSAITMVtt | COMPLETE, DEPENDABLE DOMESTIC AND WORLDWIDE TRAVEL • Airiino Reservations • Motel/Motel Accomodations • Travel Counsel ■ Rental Car Reservations • Tours • Charter Frights • FREE Ticket Delivery Bob Brown 846*8718 Pam & JoAnn >4*0& T«Bik/iobby of th« fomada Inn/College Station dogs killed by cars match the number oflive stray dogs found, she said. “Someone is paid full-time to clean dead animals off the streets of Bryan and College Sta tion,” Ricker said. Malnutrition is another prob lem these lost dogs suffer, which is a factor leading to disease. Ricker said she has seen dogs with severe mange, ulcers all over their bodies and other health problems. “Dogs that have been lost since they were puppies have been found and their necks have grown completely around their collars,” she said. “There are ulcers all around the area and it is extremely painful. Unless someone wants to spend the time and money to bring the dog back to normal health the only humane thing we can do is put it to sleep.” But some dogs do survive and adapt to outdoor life without people. They become like wild animals and will even raise litters which are wilder. “A pack of wild dogs used to roam the Southwest Parkway and Krenek Tap Road area in College Station,” Ricker said. “They even would raise litters behind the Post Oak Mall area. These puppies were definitely wild and had never been touched by human hands ” Wild dogs survive mainly by scavenging garbage dumpsters and cans and eating cat and dog food left outside of homes. Some of them are good enough to catch rabbits, frogs, rats and other small animals, Ricker said. Dogs will also eat berries and other edible plants, she said. When a wild dog is caught, it is taken to the shelter where, if it can be tamed, it could be adopted. Otherwise it is put to Sle*^, she said. Ricker warns against people feeding abandoned or wild animals. Wild cats are a bigger prob lem, she added. “There is no hope for a wild cifc,” Rkker said. "It can’t be so- ckrfiwd. It is as wild as a tiger. They only thing we can do is put them to sleep.’ “People feel sorry For them and feed them,” she sakl. “But what they are really doing is in creasing the rabies and other disease potential in their area.” If people Want to feed a stray animal, Kicker said they Should take responsibility for the anim- akin al by taking k to get shots for rabies and distemper, Having k wormed and neutered. It is not fair to the animal to feed it but not take care of it, she said. Wild animals should not be handled, Ricker said. The best thing a person could do is call Animal Control to catch the animal. >gs animals are caught by humane traps, she said. A meaty bone or other type of bait is plated in the When When stray animals are caught that are not wild, the shelter holds them for three days to see if they are claimed, she said. If an animal is not claimed it is checked for health problems and, if healthy, is put up for adoption, Ricker said. “We get about 800 animals a month, more in the summer, and 10*40 percent of them are claimed by their owners,” she said. “Of the ones left, 10-20 percent are adopted. We think that is a pretty good rate.” In order to adopt a dog from the shelter, the potential owner must pass an interview and sign a contract. The contract says the person has to have the animal neutered and take it to get a rabies shot, Ricker said. trap. When aw ahimal enters Ihe cage to get the bait a trap door " Ail closes behind them, Ricker said. "We insist that the animals be neutered so there won’t be any stray litters,” she said. “We want to put ourselves out of business.” QUITTING BUSINESS : ijrtemopm? 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