12D THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
OFF THE HILL
MONDAY,AUGUST 16,2004
Abandoned animals need shelter
By Julie Jones
jones@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Every May and December animals are left in dumpsters and ditches by college students who are moving and unable to take their pets with them.
Fortunately for these animals, 80 to 90 percent are adopted. Only animals with severe illnesses and aggressive temperaments are euthanized.
In the height of these seasons, the Lawrence Humane Society is filled to capacity, housing about 800 animals.
"Lawrence is filled with people who can't take care of pets," said Midge Grinstead, Lawrence Humane Society Director. "They often mean well and pass the application process, but they really don't have time to spend with it."
Moving is also an issue and is the number one reason pets are
THE PET DECISION
Ask yourself the following questions before becoming a pet owner
How many times will you be moving in the next four years? Can your pet handle the stress?
**Can you afford a pet?** Shots, spaying, neutering, food, toys, grooming, kennelling, litter and leashes add up quickly. Dogs can cost $200 to $1,400. Cats cost $400 to $500.
Can you afford pet deposits and pet rent?
- Do you have enough time to spend with your animal?
- Is your lifestyle healthy for an animal?
Here are a few tips from the Lawrence Humane Society, Gentle Animal Care Hospital and American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to ensure pet's safety and happiness.
Never leave pets in a parked car for any time during the summer. Temperatures inside a car can reach 100 degrees, killing your pet
Some common plants, such as easter lily, peace lily, philodendron (kv), aloe, amaryllis, daffodil and zales are toxic to animals.
in as little as ten minutes.
Never feed your animal caffeine, nicotine, chocolate or alcohol.
Pets need regular grooming, dogs more so than cats.
Cats need a scratching post. Rubbing cat nip along the sides will help them to use it. If your cat prefers to scratch your furniture, try putting double-sided tape where they scratch.
ing their pets. So they get a pet at college, but soon neglect it because they underestimated the time and cost involved. Because of this, the Lawrence Humane Society tries not to target students for adopting its animals, Grinstead said.
But many college students don't think about it, Grinstead said. They are away from home and start miss-
dumped in U.S. Humane Societies
"The best thing to do is volunteer to get a dog fix or a cat fix," Grinstead said. "Lots of students help
out by playing with the animals, grooming and brushing them. It's good for them."
"If you don't want a pet to play a role in where you live, then don't get one," said Catherine Peace, a vet-technician at Gentle Care Animal Hospital. "Really think about it before you do it."
Grinstead said if a student came in wanting to adopt an animal, she talked with them, helping them gage if they were realistically able to handle the responsibility.
Courtney Kuhlen/KANSAN
—Edited by Jay Senter
Two kittens await
Two kittens await adoption at the Lawrence Humane Society. College students thinking about adopting a pet must carefully consider the responsibility, said Midge Grinstead, director of the Lawrence Humane Society. Grinstead said many students end up giving away their pets once they move.
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