By Carey Sharp

Mower County Humane Society

Sometimes being a part of an animal rescue organization seems like a no-win situation.

On one hand, we receive praise for rescuing and nurturing unwanted animals. However, we sometimes find ourselves criticized due to the large number of animals in our care and the amount of time they spend there.

How long is too long for an animal to spend at a shelter? Is it beneficial or detrimental? Are we really just a bunch of bleeding hearts who want to save all of them?

As animal lovers and advocates, we try our best to save them. Many shelters place limits on the amount of time allowed for an animal to spend in their care. They even select only the elite animals, ignoring larger breed dogs and pit bulls. Some have a zero tolerance attitude: If the animal displays any unwanted traits or behaviors, he is euthanized.

However, many dogs and cats enter a shelter with questionable behaviors and leave as wonderful family companions. Evaluating these animals is one of our most important and time consuming duties.

At the MCHS we choose to give every animal that enters our shelter our utmost confidence. We not only give these animals the basics — food, water, and shelter, but provide them with love, compassion, and understanding. No animal should have an expiration date.

What might take one dog or cat a day to learn, could take another days, weeks or even longer to master. We applaud baby steps enthusiastically.

Truthfully, our primary job seems to be cleaning up the messes made by people who have proved to be irresponsible and less than committed. It’s no coincidence that the majority of our dogs come to us between one year to eighteen months of age; after the cute puppy age is long passed and training becomes either too hard or too time consuming. Does a young, inexperienced dog deserve a time limit on his life because he was never taught the proper behavior? Should he be deemed a bad dog because he jumps on people, chews, nips, or engages in other behaviors that should have been corrected at an early age?

Should we give up on the traumatized cats and dogs who have been abandoned or abused? These are our hardest cases.

These animals can’t be rushed and sometimes the big break through is right around the corner. We are committed to providing them with a safe and loving environment for however long it takes them to reach their potential.

A time constraint can’t be placed on patience and compassion and the wonders that they can achieve.

Mark your calendars for the annual “Walk for Animals” to be held on Sun., Sept. 11 at Mill Pond in Austin. Donation forms are available now at the public library, Austin Veterinary Clinic, and Double K Specialty. Prizes this year will include Minnesota Twins memorabilia, a hotel package and Bruins hockey tickets. See you there.