How We Began
Shannon's Companions started as an animal rescue in 1999 when Shannon realized a huge problem in her home town. There were no rescues or shelters at that time, just Animal Control. Animal Control had a fairly large enclosed kennel building with several outside "drop off" kennels. People waited until after they closed and just left their unwanted dogs there because they did not want to face what they were doing. They believed their pets would be adopted out. The dogs sat in those cold concrete kennels all night, confused and scared, until Animal Control opened in the morning when they would be put inside. After several visits of trying to get dogs out of Animal Control by paying their adoption fee, the men there would not comply. "We have to hold them for 5 days and then they will be available" is what they told her. However, Shannon would go back to get them and the whole place was empty. When she asked what was going on they refused to speak to her. After doing some investigating on the matter she found out the truth. Every 10 days a vet would come in and euthanize them all. It didn't matter how long they had been there, whether they were found or surrendered, every 10 days they killed them all. They did not want the money for adoption fees so they did not adopt them out. As "Animal Control" they were being paid twice as much per animal to euthanize them than they would have gotten by adopting them out and it came to them personally in a commission check rather than an adoption fee going back into the Animal Control budget. This is when Shannon's Companions was born! To give people an alternative and save those poor dogs.
|
The Issues Today
After spending many years in animal rescue and hearing the many reasons why people give up their pets we are going to take it a step further to keep them from being surrendered in the first place. First hand recorded top reasons for surrender in the Southern Missouri area are:
1.) Hard times, can't afford to feed or get health care. 2.) Can't afford to get spayed or the resulting puppies. 3.) Have to move and can't find a place that accepts pets or can't afford the pet deposit. |
Programs We Will Be Providing
1.) Pet Food Pantry
2.) Spay/Neuter Assistance 3.) Basic Wellness needs such as immunizations, wormer & flea/tick preventative. 4.) Assistance with pet friendly housing. |