Second chance

Shelter provides plenty of homes for unwanted dogs

AURORA — It was a year and a half ago, but Kane County Sgt. Kevin Williams still brags about the time his partner found 150 pounds of marijuana hidden in 10,000 pounds of melons.

To be fair, smelling a needle of pot in a haystack of melons is a pretty good trick. It's not quite as magical, however, when you learn Williams' partner was a chocolate Labrador retriever named Buster.

"He climbed up on top of the melons and stopped at one point," Williams said. "We just told them to unload the melons to that level — and there it was."

As the head of the canine unit for Kane County, Williams is familiar with the talents of animal officers. The sheriff's office recruited Buster and the seven other dogs in the canine unit from a training school in Indiana.

But the unit is funded entirely by donations. That meant, when Williams decided to add a new patrol pooch, he needed to go cheap. That's why he turned to the Aurora Animal Control and Care Facility.

At the center on River Street, Williams discovered Jake, a 2- to 3-year-old lab mix. Police animals have to be passive alert — which means they'll protect the officer but not attack bystanders. Jake fit that qualification, and on Jan. 5, the Kane County jail had a new nose inside.

But Williams, an animal lover since childhood, sympathized with the shelter's other dogs. The older ones, especially, had seen plenty of potential adopters pass their cage. Who wants an old dog, after all.

Kevin Williams decided he did. That's how Oakley, a 7-year-old shepherd mix, became the newest member of his house.

"We don't know where he came from, but we know he was treated well when he was there," he said.

In the last two years, 581 dogs like Oakley and Jake were adopted from Aurora's shelter, a number that is not high enough for some animal lovers.

"The responsibilities rest squarely on the shoulders of (pet owners), there's no doubt about that," said former Aurora resident Char Newman, who until she moved out of state last year, long has been one of this city's most vocal animal activists. "But I think when they leave their animals (at the city shelter), they believe they are going to be adopted."

In the past, Newman and other activists have attempted to turn the center into a no-kill shelter. But shelter employees insist they release all they can safely to the public.

As a city entity, says Nass, the Auroras shelter has the obligation to take in all the animals brought to its door. Sick, abused, neglected and unwanted cats and dogs are dropped off on the counter, leaving Nass's staff to deal with them.

In 2003, there were 1,758 dogs and 1,731 cats which passed through the lobby of the shelter on River Street. "There just aren't enough homes" for all of them," said Nass.

In 2003, 28 dogs were killed because the shelter ran out of space. By contrast, 183 were euthanized at the owner's request, 86 because they were too sick and 316 were not safe to be in homes with people.

Aurora's situation is not unusual. Joliet has 50,000 less people but the shelter there handles a few more animals because it collects for several communities.

Andy Ivanicky, director of the Joliet Township Animal Control Center, said his shelter euthanizes a similar percentage of animals for many of the same reasons as Aurora.

"There is a lot of education that has to go on (as to) why euthanasia has to exist. It's not that we want to do this. We have to do this."

Nationally, the numbers of dogs being housed and killed in shelters is dropping. Kate Pullen, the director of animal sheltering issues for the United States Humane Society, said 20 years ago, more than 10 million animals were euthanized every year nationally. Thanks to an aggressive spay and neuter campaign, that number has dropped to between three and four million.

While some insist low-kill shelters are feasible, others say the idea of holding all animals unless they are too sick is unrealistic for municipal shelters.

Ivanicky points out many of these no-kill or low-kill shelters can only operate because they turn animals away.

"We have to take (all of them)," he said. "It's part of our responsibility."

But the real responsibility, Nass said, lies with pet owners.

"It doesn't matter how long you've worked at a facility: You still ask the question, how could anyone do that to an animal?" she said.

Nass tries not to dwell on the sad stories. She's helped start a photo album of the shelter's success stories that is filled with letters and pictures of satisfied dog and cat owners. She'd like Williams' two dogs, Oakley and Jake, to become part of that book soon.

Jake's first owner dropped him off because he couldn't get along with the other dog in the house. Oakley came to the shelter in December when his owners decided they could no longer care for the old dog.

But within a month, Jake and Oakley have found homes — and their new owner couldn't be happier.

"First of all, they'll be your best friend forever," he said. "If something's sad, they'll cheer you up.

"And, he added, laughing, "They won't talk back."

AURORA — It was a year and a half ago, but Kane County Sgt. Kevin Williams still brags about the time his partner found 150 pounds of marijuana hidden in 10,000 pounds of melons. To be fair, smelling a needle of pot in a haystack of melons is a pretty good trick. It's not quite as magical, however, when you learn Williams' partner was a chocolate Labrador retriever named Buster. "He climbed up on top of the melons and stopped at one point," Williams said. "We just told them to unload the melons to that level — and there it was." As the head of the canine unit for Kane County, Williams is familiar with the talents of animal officers. The sheriff's office recruited Buster and the seven other dogs in the canine unit from a training school in Indiana. But the unit is funded entirely by donations. That meant, when Williams decided to add a new patrol pooch, he needed to go cheap. That's why he turned to the Aurora Animal Control and Care Facility. At the center on River Street, Williams discovered Jake, a 2- to 3-year-old lab mix. Police animals have to be passive alert — which means they'll protect the officer but not attack bystanders. Jake fit that qualification, and on Jan. 5, the Kane County jail had a new nose inside. But Williams, an animal lover since childhood, sympathized with the shelter's other dogs. The older ones, especially, had seen plenty of potential adopters pass their cage. Who wants an old dog, after all. Kevin Williams decided he did. That's how Oakley, a 7-year-old shepherd mix, became the newest member of his house. "We don't know where he came from, but we know he was treated well when he was there," he said. In the last two years, 581 dogs like Oakley and Jake were adopted from Aurora's shelter, a number that is not high enough for some animal lovers. "The responsibilities rest squarely on the shoulders of (pet owners), there's no doubt about that," said former Aurora resident Char Newman, who until she moved out of state last year, long has been one of this city's most vocal animal activists. "But I think when they leave their animals (at the city shelter), they believe they are going to be adopted." In the past, Newman and other activists have attempted to turn the center into a no-kill shelter. But shelter employees insist they release all they can safely to the public. As a city entity, says Nass, the Auroras shelter has the obligation to take in all the animals brought to its door. Sick, abused, neglected and unwanted cats and dogs are dropped off on the counter, leaving Nass's staff to deal with them. In 2003, there were 1,758 dogs and 1,731 cats which passed through the lobby of the shelter on River Street. "There just aren't enough homes" for all of them," said Nass. In 2003, 28 dogs were killed because the shelter ran out of space. By contrast, 183 were euthanized at the owner's request, 86 because they were too sick and 316 were not safe to be in homes with people. Aurora's situation is not unusual. Joliet has 50,000 less people but the shelter there handles a few more animals because it collects for several communities. Andy Ivanicky, director of the Joliet Township Animal Control Center, said his shelter euthanizes a similar percentage of animals for many of the same reasons as Aurora. "There is a lot of education that has to go on (as to) why euthanasia has to exist. It's not that we want to do this. We have to do this." Nationally, the numbers of dogs being housed and killed in shelters is dropping. Kate Pullen, the director of animal sheltering issues for the United States Humane Society, said 20 years ago, more than 10 million animals were euthanized every year nationally. Thanks to an aggressive spay and neuter campaign, that number has dropped to between three and four million. While some insist low-kill shelters are feasible, others say the idea of holding all animals unless they are too sick is unrealistic for municipal shelters. Ivanicky points out many of these no-kill or low-kill shelters can only operate because they turn animals away. "We have to take (all of them)," he said. "It's part of our responsibility." But the real responsibility, Nass said, lies with pet owners. "It doesn't matter how long you've worked at a facility: You still ask the question, how could anyone do that to an animal?" she said. Nass tries not to dwell on the sad stories. She's helped start a photo album of the shelter's success stories that is filled with letters and pictures of satisfied dog and cat owners. She'd like Williams' two dogs, Oakley and Jake, to become part of that book soon. Jake's first owner dropped him off because he couldn't get along with the other dog in the house. Oakley came to the shelter in December when his owners decided they could no longer care for the old dog. But within a month, Jake and Oakley have found homes — and their new owner couldn't be happier. "First of all, they'll be your best friend forever," he said. "If something's sad, they'll cheer you up. "And, he added, laughing, "They won't talk back."