Point Pleasant Shelter in West Virginia [Mason Co.] claws back

From: "Stephen H. Dickstein" <sdickste@mwcog.org>
  To: <RCTaylor@co.pg.md.us>
  Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 11:07 AM
  WV 8-04 Shelter Claws Back!


  {COG Animal Services Committee}

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Edward Tucker [mailto:TuckerE@GOVT.CO.CHARLES.MD.US]
  Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 9:33 AM
  Subject: Fwd: WV 8-04 Shelter Claws Back!

  the latest on Mason County -  good news

  >>> "Paul Miller" <pmillerhswc@myactv.net> 8/10/2004 9:27:05 AM >>>
  Shelter Claws Back!
  WTAP News
  Denise Alex

  Animal rescue groups have pulled off a massive relocation effort, moving
  nearly 100 doomed cats and dogs out of a Mason County animal shelter.

  The groups had worried that an unexpected budget cut would lead to mass
  gassing of the animals.

  People from Utah to Pennsylvania answered the call to move the animals
  to safety.

  Last week, the Point Pleasant shelter had 80 dogs and 50 cats.

  Monday, there are only 10 dogs and 12 cats left, and the shelter
  director who had quit in frustration is back on the job.

  Mason County Commissioner Rick Handley says a lot of good came of the
  controversy, but the animals are the big winners.

  Under a new policy, animals can only be kept at the shelter for 14 days.
  That's nine days longer than state law requires.

  Animals that must be put down will be killed by lethal injection,
  considered more humane than gassing.

  Handley also says shelter employees can work with volunteer
  animal-transport groups. They just can't use county funds or vehicles.