exercise buddy, and an amazing way to bring
happiness into any day.
Like Floyd the hound at your local dog
pound Lisa Brasel, Yankton’s Animal Control
Officer, works hard to find a home for
ownerless pets, regardless of their age or
breed, as long as they are of pet quality.
Because she has limited space, she needs
to move animals that are not claimed as
quickly as possible, working with animal
rescue organizations or humane societies in
the process. A strong believer in having pets
spayed and neutered before adoption, she
prefers to work primarily with organizations
that include this in their adoption process.
“I always try to encourage people to
adopt a pet rather than buy from a breeder,”
she explains. She sees many types of dogs,
many of them a wonderful candidate for
someone’s pet. “Second-hand pets make
first-class fur families,” she states, “and always
keep in mind that our pets rely on us for their
care so make sure you are ready to meet the
needs of that particular breed. Animals like
people, need to feel safe and loved also.”
Another place to get a first-rate pet
Jeanette Kranz, Foster & Animal Care
Coordinator and Christa Kranig, Shelter
Coordinator are from the Heartland Humane
Society (HHS) in Yankton. Established
in 2006 originally as the Yankton Area
Humane Society, HHS is a private non-profit
corporation that primarily serves Yankton,
Clay and Cedar Counties though often
providing assistance to 11 other counties.
When considering adoption, Kranz explains
the items to think through. The primary
consideration is the financial commitment
that is required of a furry family addition. If
you are considering getting a young animal,
you should understand that you are looking
at a minimum of approximately ten years of
the cost of food, grooming, veterinary care
and emergency care.
“What we look for in trying to match our
pets with the right home, is that they are
really considering their future and where
they will be in the next ten or so years. Does
that future include this animal?” HHS asks
that the adopter consider how much time
they have to devote to the animal’s training,
grooming, exercise and socialization, as
these are all key components of finding the
right animal for their household.
Interested in adopting?
When seriously considering pet
adoption, HHS asks that you come to
the shelter at 3400 E. Highway 50 in
Yankton, check out their website at www.
heartlandhumanesociety.net or call them at
(605) 664-4244 for more information. If you
are considering adopting a dog, they are not
held at the shelter, so you will need to view
them online, on the “dog wall” at the shelter
or at their Meet and Greet events. They ask
for an application to be completed, which
doesn’t commit you to anything, it just gives
them an idea of what you are looking for
in a pet and some other details in what will
help find the most suitable pet for you. When
they find a match, they will have you spend
time with the animal, asking that all family
members be present at the meeting at some
point. If you already have a dog and are
adopting another, they ask that your current
fuzzy family member also be present to see
how the dogs interact with each other.
Kranz explains that, for every animal that
is bought through a breeder that means
that there is one more animal that has to
sit at a shelter waiting for a forever home.
If you adopt from a shelter, she states, “You
are helping save the life of an animal that
deserves a chance for a good home. But we
also want you to make smart choices about
when to adopt, what type of animal to adopt
and that if you aren’t ready for a long-term
commitment, then wait until you are ready.”
If you would like to view any of the
animals at the Yankton pound, contact
Animal Control Officer Lisa Brasel from 8
a.m.–4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 661-9494 or at
668-5210.
Interiors LLC
Other ways to help
If you’re not ready to adopt or not
considering adoption, you can still help
out our furry friends by donating to the
HHS or the dog pound. Because the HHS is
a non-profit organization, they receive no
state or federal funding and instead rely on
private donations. They are currently in need
of the following items: clumping cat litter,
cat food, kitten food, bedding for Guinea
Pigs and bleach. If you’d like to help out the
Yankton pound, they are always in need of
both canned and dry dog and cat food, flea
and tick medicine and deworming medicine.
Both agencies appreciate any donations they
receive.
As I look down at Floyd, who’s nestled in
next to me and snoring deeply as I write,
it’s quite apparent to me the benefits of
adopting a dog. I’ve reaped those benefits
and by the smile on Floyd’s face, I’m pretty
certain he has too.
vBy Julie Eickhoff
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213 W. 3rd St. Yankton SD
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HERVOICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015v13