Animal rescue group needs money
By JOE L. HUGHES Ledger Staff Writer joe@gaffneyledger.com

A Cherokee County organization dedicated to saving the lives of the county's cats and dogs is in desperate need of funds.

Saving Gaffney Pets (SGP) has helped spare the lives of animals across the county over the years, including close to 2,000 last year.

But a lack of funds threatens to shut the organization down.

"We are the only rescue in this county doing something for these animals," Mary Carpenter of Saving Gaffney Pets said. "But a lack of funding is causing a serious strain in the amount of things we can do."

The organization has done its part to spare the lives of the animals, transporting them to other parts of the country or sometimes taking the pets into their own homes.

"I sometimes have 70 dogs from the shelter at a time on my 85-acre farm," Kristy D. Patterson of Saving Gaffney Pets said.

However, these ventures take more money out of SGP's funds than can be put in, putting it at risk.

"We really only get reimbursed for the animals' veterinary expenses and gas for these trips. Otherwise the money is coming out of pocket," Carpenter said. "But we have to pay for their food…which is anything but cheap."

Carpenter said many in the community believe SGP was one of the recipients of the Humane Society surrendering its assets after ceasing operations recently.

"I wish that were the case, but it is not," Carpenter said. "(SGP) did not get a dime. Those funds went to two other rescues in the area, but not here."

Last year, SGP saved 78 percent of all pets brought into the shelter. The organization continued its success this year, saving 91 percent of animals.

The final 9 percent consisted primarily of pit bulls that were forced to be put down.

While the goal is to save as many pets as possible, Carpenter said sometimes animals must be killed.

"We try to save as many animals as possible and find them good homes," Carpenter said. "But with us not being a 'no-kill' shelter, we can only hold so many animals before we have to put them down. It is unfortunate, but we also have more animals coming in on a regular basis."

Animals are kept at the shelter for five days before they are euthanized.

Kennels hold up to 30 animals at a time at the county's consolidated animal shelter on Yale Street. But this is not nearly enough in Carpenter's eyes. She belives the county has fallen behind other counties in the Upstate as well as in North Carolina.

"York and Spartanburg counties just opened up beautiful facilities and Gastonia is in the process of doing so as well," Carpenter said. "The one here in Cherokee County is vastly outdated. It is hot during summer, making animals suffer."

Carpenter said the primary reason for the county's animal problems is the public's failure to control the pet population.

"The public must learn to control their pets' populations," Carpenter said. "We have enough problems finding these precious animals homes as is and our transport system is insufficient.

"Spay and neuter laws may help ensure the issues do not continue."