WILD WILD WESTRICH

Alarming numbers of stray and abandoned animals in Athens shows a need for more responsible pet ownership.

From chihuahuas to basset hounds to great danes, dogs are man’s furry, funny and faithful friends.

But are we as people holding up our side of this pawsome partnership?

The hundreds of strays and abandoned animals in Athens might say no— in fact, we’ve actually been rather bad boys.

Even beyond the negative effects on the animals themselves, irresponsible pet ownership can have wider negative effects on the community.

Animals that aren’t properly cared for can spread diseases, destroy the balance of ecosystems by killing of native species such as birds and cause car accidents, among other things.

BY ISABELLA WESTRICH Variety Editor

“There’s a lot of people, especially college kids, that will get dogs and then can’t care for them, or a lot of people who will just have too many pets,” Athens Area Humane Society Animal Care Specialist Bella Williamson said.

This irresponsibile pet ownership has lead to a stray and abandoned animal problem in Athens. In 2022 alone, the Athens Clarke County Animal Shelter took in a total of 1151 dogs and 1104 cats that were either strays or owner surrenders.

Of those, 38 dogs and 31 cats were euthanized, one dog and 11 cats died at the kennel and six dogs and one cat were dead on arrival.

Conditions for these animals, even if they don’t die, are far from optimal. Williamson has seen many strays come in harmed physically, mentally or both.

“We had, for example, Larry. He’s still here, but when he came in he was covered in fleas and didn’t have a lot of hair. We also had a dog named Bravo, and he was almost completely hairless just because of his skin condition,” Williamson said. “Then for some of them it’s more like mental then it is physical, and so some of them may just be scared of people altogether.”

Community members should work to address this heartbreaking issue.

“If the animals are struggling, we, as a community, should give them some help. Whether it is taking the animals to shelters or just putting some food out for them, all of us should at least do something for them other than leaving them alone,” Clarke Central High School freshman and Humane Society Club member Ashley Gresham said.

Athens’ stray and abandoned animal problem can be resolved— it’s just imperative that pet owners act responsibly.

Spaying and neutering, keeping pets under control and enclosed and providing them with everything they need are all essential. We owe it to our pets to step up; after all, all they do is love us.