Week of 3/21/10 Humane Happenings

Daisy (on left) adopted from Desert Haven where she was known as Scruffy, in her new forever home with Luke, a new friend!

We have had a lot of people ask us what is the difference between the Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven Animal Refuge and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe, how these three entities are related to each other, and where does Sierra Animal Shelter fit into this?

1. The Sierra County Humane Society, Desert Haven Animal Refuge and Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe are all under the same umbrella, which is a non-profit (501-C-3) animal welfare organization. We take unwanted, abandoned and abused animals off the streets, directly from their owners and also from the city shelter – Sierra Animal shelter. We give them sanctuary, food, and veterinary care, from whatever funds we are able to raise on our own. With the help of our volunteers, these animals also receive the one-on-one attention that they so richly deserve to help heal not only their bodies but also their hearts.

Our physical address is HWY 187, HC31 box 42, Williamsburg.

2. Sierra Animal Shelter is a business for profit. This for-profit business receives taxpayers dollars through contracts with the City of T or C, Sierra County, the state parks, Village of Williamsburg and City of Elephant Butte. Sierra Animal Shelter is associated with Hot Springs Animal Clinic. Both of these for-profit businesses are under the same private ownership. Their physical address is 1607 North Date Street, T or C.

Here are some more differences between the two entities described above.

1. Our Desert Haven is a No-Kill domestic animal sanctuary operated by volunteers. The number of animals we can rescue and care for is limited only by the amount of funding we ourselves can raise through community outreach events, private donations, and the available space within our facility. We care for all of them until they are adopted out or to the end of their natural life.

2. On the other hand, taxpayers’ funding covers Sierra Animal Shelter’s operating expenses and employees salaries. Through their contracts, they are obliged to accept all animals brought in from T or C and all of Sierra County and to dispose of them as per their contract and the Animal Control Ordinance. They also adopt out as many animals as they can. Because there are so many unwanted animals in Sierra County, the animals they cannot adopt out within a certain amount of time are euthanized. Sierra Animal Shelter does not have the No-Kill policy that we at Desert Haven have.

For as long as we can remember, folks have been confused about the differences between the Sierra County Humane Society and Sierra Animal Shelter. We hope that we have been able to clear this up for anyone who shares this confusion.
If you still have questions, feel free to contact us at 575-894-2778. For more information on the Sierra County Humane Society, Inc., Desert Haven Animal Refuge and P&C thrift Shoppe, visit our web site at www.DeserthavenAnimalRefuge.com, contact us at 894-2778 or 894-2639 or visit Desert Haven on Tuesday when it is open for visitors.