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By JOHN FRIEDLEIN
jfriedlein@thenewsenterprise.com
Local farm groups on Monday delivered the first load of what eventually will be a ton of cat and dog food to a Vine Grove animal shelter.
The gift comes after bad national press for livestock producers over problems highlighted by groups such as the Humane Society of the United States.
National animal rights organizations are out to change the law to better protect animals, which is a necessity, but they don’t donate food to the shelter as did the ag organizations, Animal Refuge Center manager Penny Edwards said.
Rineyville beef producer Chuck Crutcher said, “This is just the right thing to do.”
Reports of mishandling animals isn’t true of 99 percent of those involved with raising livestock, he said. Animal rights activists “pick out certain events and highlight them.”
Crutcher said that isn’t what farmers are about.
“We’re interested in taking care of our animals.”
One of the more publicized incidents was a 2008 video released by the national Humane Society; it depicted the mistreatment of cattle at a California slaughterhouse.
Monday’s event at the shelter also was meant to highlight the recent creation of the Kentucky Livestock Care Standards Commission, Crutcher said.
Groups involved with the donation are Southern States, which gave away some of the food and provided the rest to the other donors at cost, the county Farm Bureau and Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Credit Services.
“We can always use cat and dog food,” Edwards said. “We’re very appreciative of their help.”
Her shelter, which houses more than 100 cats and several dogs, relies on donations to operate.
The first shipment alone will provide food for a month or more, she said. “The money that we would normally spend on that can go elsewhere.”
If the center has an excess of food, the shelter will give it to pet owners who need help with feeding their animals.
“It’s a terrible thing to see someone have to give up their pet just because they can’t afford to feed it,” Edwards said. “And we’ve seen that a lot in this economy.”
To donate, call 877-6064.
John Friedlein can be reached at (270) 505-1746.
Penny was a little misquoted in this article…she meant the shelter would give it to other LOCAL SHELTERS to help feed their animals. Monica Wilcox’s Woodland Wildlife is a particular favorite of ours.
She’s so devoted to what she does, and the community lays so much responsibility on her, and yet she doesn’t actively ask for donations. For all that she’s needed in this community, it’s a wonder they’re still open.
Still, a million thanks to Chuck Crutcher, Southern States, the county Farm Bureau and Cattlemen’s Association and Farm Credit Services for all their awesome help.