SLO County should be proud of its animal shelter

The mayors of Paso Robles and Atascadero have asked for more time to consider the cost of partnering with the county on building a new animal shelter, versus building their own shelter.

If the mayors haven’t visited our county shelter, they should.

Wednesday is a good day to come, when the shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. To get the full picture, come around 7:45 a.m. when staff, volunteers and Honor Farm inmates arrive. The shelter depends heavily on these inmates to get all dog kennels and cat habitats clean by opening. Observe staff or actually talk to some — if they have time to talk. Watch the volunteers, but watch only. They’re busy wrangling dogs out of kennels and making sure they get out to relieve themselves. Try to ignore the barking volume.

Most importantly, watch how well the animals are treated by all. The adoption rate is a high one, because all there work together to achieve the No. 1 goal, which is getting animals adopted — not just to any home, but to the right home.

It is our job and duty to consider, evaluate, encourage and treat our animals with love and respect, so they can show us the good that is in them. Remember, the goal and duty of the entire shelter is adoption, adoption, adoption. So Mr. Mayors, it’s not just a building. It’s the success inside that makes it a shelter to be proud of.

This story was originally published September 27, 2017 at 8:18 AM with the headline "SLO County should be proud of its animal shelter."