Ask an expert
Q: I have three children under age 10, and they all want a puppy. I’m wondering if I will have the time and patience to see a puppy through his juvenile stage. Any suggestions?
A: The juvenile stage can last one full year. Puppies need home manners training and playtime to become good canine citizens. Many shelter animals are about 1 year old but were never taught their home manners, so in the owner’s eyes become a “problem.” My advice is to get to know your dog before adopting him by visiting the shelter frequently. Also, consider enrolling your dog in a training program.
— Guy Bilyeu, executive director, Humane Educational Society
Pet Placement Center
Bubba Sue is 14 years old, an age that means the end is nearing for this shelter cat, the longest-lasting resident at the Pet Placement Center north of Red Bank. The first four years of her life, she lived at home. But when her owner died, there was nowhere else for her to go. She’s lived at the shelter for 10 years.
“She has ‘catitude,’ rules the roost and doesn’t want young cats around,” said shelter president Linda Boyd. “At this point, I don’t think we’ll even let her go.”
But there are almost 100 more from which to choose if adopting a cat is in your future. And there are about 20 dogs needing homes as well.
More importantly, though, the shelter is in need of funds, Mrs. Boyd said.
A project of the Tennessee Humane Animal League, the center is one of just a handful of no-kill shelters in the region, so money is always needed to feed and provide care for the animals as long as they are there. And upkeep on the building is always a demand.
The average monthly budget is $16,000, but the shelter currently is bringing in just $8,000 per month. “The rest, we have to depend on fundraisers,” Mrs. Boyd added.
To donate or inquire about adopting, call 877-0738 or visit www.thalppc.org.