East Carolinian

Issue date: 6/10/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Erin Duncan

Coming home to a familiar face after a long day is a comfort and what better way to be welcomed than by a warm, fuzzy friend who is always happy to see you? This is one of the perks of pet ownership, which can even turn out to be a better relationship than your last boyfriend or girlfriend.

In the city of Greenville alone, there has been a growing problem within animal shelters and hospitals with an abundance of animals and not enough people willing to adopt, leaving many animals without homes.

Greenville has a few options when it comes to adopting animals. The Pitt County Animal Shelter, The Humane Society and Petsmart offer animals for adoption almost every day of the week.

Michelle Whaley, the Pitt County Animal Shelter manager reported that in the past year, their shelter took in 4,520 cats and dogs. Of those, 1,230 animals were either adopted or returned to their owners. The rest of the 2,891 animals were unfortunately euthanized after the shelter was unable to find a home.

Whaley said, "When you adopt an animal it is a lifetime commitment, you have to think of your roommates, parents and landlord. You have to think far ahead and make sure you can accept the responsibility."

Adopting animals can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can do, but with the cute creature comes instant motherhood or fatherhood. That adorable little animal will become your child, one who will need shots, medication, food and loving for the rest of its days. Not all of these responsibilities are a bad thing of course but they will put a damper on your budget and your time.

One of the most important things to consider after you have a pet is to have it spayed or neutered. According to Whaley, if more people would have their pets fixed there would not be as big of a problem with overcrowding in the shelters.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened," said Anatole France.

The Pitt County Animal Shelter can be located at 4550 County Home Road or can be called at 252-902-1725.

The Human Society can be reached at 252-413-7247



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com.

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