To the editor:

I believe that our city can take care of both homeless people and homeless animals. The Lawrence Humane Society is the only place for animals in our community. Animals can’t ask for food, water, shelter or tell you that they are being abused. Thousands die every year from disease, injury and abuse. The lucky ones make it to the shelter.

The Humane Society is much more than a holding and adoption facility. The Society houses 5,500 animals yearly and adopts out or returns to owners 80 percent of the animals. We pick up strays in unincorporated areas of the county and educate our community regarding responsible pet ownership. Our animals visit nursing care facilities, schools, senior center, CLO and others. We are the largest placement for juvenile offenders working off community service hours and investigate 750 cruelty and neglect calls per year.

The Lawrence Humane Society has been a viable part of our community for more than 51 years. Associating euthanasia with money we receive from the city is a misconception. I could not work at the shelter if all we did was euthanize. Each time an animal is “put to sleep” it is an agonizing decision that greatly affects my entire staff. Normally, only aggressive, ill or injured animals are euthanized. There are times when an animal can no longer handle being caged and the solution, when the animal is not adopted, is to humanely euthanize. The Society is a not-for-profit organization. We make every dime stretch to the limits of our ability. We are not just for animals. We are the very core of what a community is: helping those who can’t help themselves.

Midge Grinstead,
Lawrence Human Society