EDITORIAL: Florence, FAHS need no-kill animal shelter

On Thursday, the Florence Area Humane Society finally broke ground for its new no-kill Jayne H. Boswell Animal Shelter at 1440 McCurdy Road, north of the Florence Public Works Department.

Boswell, FAHS president, said the community had raised about $350,000 by June toward the construction of the 6,500-square-foot shelter, which was expected to cost about $950,000, by architect Chris Clark of Chris Clark Architecture in Myrtle Beach.

There’s no question the FAHS needs a new shelter. The humane society handles more than 2,000 unwanted pets and strays a year on average, and space at the current shelter for the animals is cramped.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, four million cats and dogs — about one every eight seconds — are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year. These animals are often the offspring of family pets.

Spaying and neutering pets is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them, the HSUS said.

Those who adopt pets from the FAHS shelter receive a $25 coupon toward the cost of spaying or neutering each dog or cat, which is required by state law for all animals adopted from a shelter.

Unfortunately, it’s a law that isn’t strictly enforced, and not just in South Carolina. It’s a key reason why the new FAHS shelter is needed.

Florence has appropriated $250,000 toward the cost of the new shelter, which has a base contract of $750,000. The city also is absorbing the cost of the site work, architectural and engineering fees.

While some people argue the shelter shouldn’t be funded by the city if other projects, like a teen center, can’t be, Florence City Councilwoman Octavia Williams-Blake pointed out this week it’s a function of government to deal with stray animals.

The third annual Bone-E-Fit on May 7 at the home of Jane and Rex Huggins raised $85,000 toward the effort. The goal of the event is not only to raise money for a no-kill animal shelter, but also to fund spay and neuter educational programs as well as operational costs after construction. The 4th Annual Bone-E-fit is planned for May 6.

In addition to the money raised through the Bone-E-Fit and other donations during the past three years, which amounts to more than $300,000, the humane society received $269,312 in grants from the Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation to go toward construction of the shelter.

We encourage responsible pet ownership, and we remind people at this time of the year pets don’t make the best Christmas gifts. For one thing, a new pet needs calm, quiet time to adjust to his new home, and the holidays are just too hectic for most people let alone their pets.

For another thing, pet ownership is a lifetime commitment that doesn’t end when the novelty wears off. When you adopt an animal, you agree to care for him for the rest of his life — which can last a decade or more — by providing him with food, water, shelter, routine vaccinations and medical care. It’s expensive; some estimates put the first year of puppy ownership at a cost as high as $2,000, for example.

For responsible pet owners, there’s an emotional investment, too. Many people treat their pets as members of the family, so it’s heartbreaking if a pet develops physical problems, contracts a disease, becomes ill or is injured. Odds are, they will outlive their pets.

Even so, most pet owners agree the rewards are far greater than the risk. Owning a pet can can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pets also can increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities, as well as socialization.

If you are ready and able to add a pet to your family, you can adopt an animal in need of a loving home from the current FAHS at 1007 Stockade Drive, off National Cemetery Road, in Florence. It’s open from noon to 5 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday. For more information about adoption fees, how to volunteer or how to donate food, supplies and funds, call (843) 669-2921.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).