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Frequently Asked Questions These are some of the most frequently asked questions answered by the Oswego County Humane Society: Q. "I don't want my pet any more, will you take it?" A. The first thing we ask is, "why aren't you able to care for your pet?". In the case of puppies and kittens, reasons include: House breaking problems Behavior problems Lack of exercise, training and attention All these reasons have other solutions that will benefit you and your pet. Surrendering your pet to a shelter or finding him a different home is quick and easy for you, but very upsetting to your loving and devoted pet. *The Oswego County Humane Society has packets of information to help you correct behavioral and training problems. We also have information on feeding, exercise, obedience and many other important topics. Q. "I have a stray animal in my yard! What do I do?" A. Each town has a Dog Control Officer (DCO). This person should be notified of all stray, lost, and nuisance dogs. The cities of Oswego and Fulton have Animal Control Officers (ACO) who also enforce stray cat laws in those communities. To find your DCO or ACO in Oswego County, check out our Town & Municipal Animal/Dog Control Officers page. Q. "My pet is missing, can you help me?" A. You should first check with the local shelters that might have taken your pet in. There are a dozen dog shelters in Oswego serving different areas. Only the City of Oswego Animal Shelter takes in cats (and then only from City of Oswego and Fulton). You should also report your lost pet to the local veterinarians -- they receive hurt or injured animals by concerned people and sometimes never find the original owners. In addition, the Sherrif's Department or NYS Police may have received reports of animal accidents. We will take a description of your dog so that if someone reports a stray, we will be able to determine whether it could be your pet and will contact you immediately. Visit our Lost & Found page to place an ad for your lost pet. The Oswego County Humane Society STRONGLY recommends that you have identification tags for your animals. An animal wearing a tag is much more likely to get back home. Tags are the most inexpensive option but there are local vets that can tattoo your pet with your information or implant a microchip. Unfortunately, most shelters in Oswego County lack microchip scanners. Q. "Who do I call to report animal cruelty?" A . All your cruelty concerns should be directed to the Sheriff's Department, (call 911), or the New York State Police. There may be cruelty investigators available that they can access. However, if you call us, we will direct you to the proper contact. Q. "Where can I adopt a pet from the Humane Society?" A. The Oswego County Humane Society utilizes foster homes for their animals. We give them any veterinary care they may need and then place them in one of our foster homes. All our available pets can be found listed here on our web site. Oswego County Humane Society OCHScontact@hotmail.com Q. "When are you going to build a shelter?" A. A short answer to a hard question. We don't know what we will build, or where, or what the projected cost will be, or when we will be in a position to make those decisions. The more we learn about the challenges and complexities of animal welfare services, the more we need careful research and analysis before making any large-scale commitments. The cost of building an animal shelter is staggering. What's more, the annual cost of operating it can be a severe drain on resources. What's more, a traditional shelter does not solve the problem of homeless animals. It is only a tool--emergency housing for homeless animals. It is not a long-term solution to the underlying problems that leave us with too many animals, some of them neglected and abused, and too few homes for them. There are more long term solutions--such as humane education, spaying and neutering programs and animal behavior programs--none of which require a traditional shelter. We know that we need emergency housing for homeless animals. We also need so much more, that we think it is critical that we plan how to meet all of these needs very carefully. Q. "I already donate to the Humane Society of the United States. Are you affiliated with HSUS and do you receive funding from them?" A. No, the Humane Society of the United States does not have local "affiliates." Each local Humane Society, just like each local SPCA, is its own separate organization with no ties to the national organization. Except for specialized grants that are sometimes awarded, the national organizations do not provide funding to local humane societies and SPCA's. The national organizations do provide important support services and information to all animal welfare groups and they count on and deserve your support. But local animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society, also count on the support of the local community. Q. "I joined as a member during your first campaign in 2000, and now you keep calling me a supporter. Which is it? What am I? Is there a difference?" A. No, and our regrets for having caused this confusion. Our first mailing invited people to become members, but then we dropped the use of that term because it has a legal meaning that does not apply to us. "Member non-profit corporations" are organizations, like country clubs, where each member can be involved in the decision-making of the corporation and receives direct benefits. That doesn't apply to the Humane Society, which is run by its board of directors. The "benefit" that you receive as a supporter is knowing that we are using your money carefully to develop comprehensive services for the people and animals of Oswego County. Remember that whatever we call you, we still appreciate your support and we depend on all of you. Q. "Do you have a planned giving program? Can I leave a charitable bequest to the Humane Society in my will? What if I do leave a bequest and you are no longer in existence when the will takes effect?" A. First, although we are young, we are working hard to create the stability that will allow us to be a viable and effective animal welfare organization for the long haul. That is why we have resisted the urge to invest all of our time and energy into quick and dramatic, but not always effective, animal rescue projects. While we offer limited adoption and information services, we are doing the hard (and sometimes boring) background work of building an organization from the ground up, and the research and planning to find real solutions to our County's animal welfare problems. One way to ensure our long-term stability is to increase our base of support through an endowment fund. We know that most successful animal welfare programs depend upon an endowment for a substantial part of their operating costs and we intend to move in that direction. Although we don't yet have a formal planned giving program available, the creation of such a program is one part of our long-range strategic plan. Even in the absence of a formal program, you are always free to make charitable bequests in your will. Your attorney can advise you about that, and also how to make alternative provisions in case any of the potential beneficiaries of your will do not survive you. In the meantime, we hope to develop and announce a planned giving program in the near future. |
   Animals we helped find a home |
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