What every pet owner in Cape Girardeau should know

A new town, strange faces and a taste of independence in a new apartment is just enough enticement for some Southeast Missouri State University students to think about adopting a new pet from the Cape Girardeau Humane Society. However, adopting a pet without planning for the future may mean having to return it later.

"A lot of times when we're young we don't realize what a 15-year commitment means, and that's what we want you to look at when you are adopting a pet," Southeast Humane Society volunteer Requi Salter said. "You will still have this pet for the next 15 years to take with you."

Salter has been a volunteer at the Humane Society for 20 years. She said in the past the Humane Society in Cape Girardeau has had problems with students adopting animals only to return them at the end of semester. According to Salter, there are many reasons for the return. Sometimes living arrangements change and pets are not allowed, students don't have time to take care of the animal or they can't afford the animal.

"Puppies are easy to adopt out, but when they are brought back at seven to nine months old, those are the hardest to adopt out," Salter said. "By then the training that should have been done as a puppy was neglected and that makes it harder to adopt out as well."

Consultants at the shelter meet with potential pet owners to prepare them for the changes an animal would make in their lives.

"I always tell everybody, 'When you get a puppy, something you love and of value will be destroyed,'" Salter said. "Know up front it's going to happen."

Before the adoption process is started, the adoption consultant calls landlords and property owners to confirm animals are allowed on the property where the animal will be kept.

If there already are animals at the residence they must have up-to-date shots and vaccinations before the new animal may be taken home.

"The leash laws are a biggie, though," Salter said.

The leash law is ordinance 6-29 in Cape Girardeau's Animal Ordinances. It states that all dogs must be on a leash or tied up on the owners or keeper's property. The city has four ordinances that directly affect students with pets.

According to ordinance 6-38, animals within city limits must be pinned or chained on the owner's property and within 300 feet of the residence and at least 20 feet away from any neighboring residences. Ordinance 6-26 requires dogs and cats wear a license purchased from the city clerk or any of the local veterinarians. If a license is lost, the owner should contact the business it was purchased from or have a receipt of the purchase to receive a replacement. Licenses must be renewed annually by April 1 and cost depends on age of the owner and whether or not the animal has been spayed or neutered.

"I think it's a discount encouragement for a lot of people," patrolman and supervisor of the Nuisance and Abatement office Ty Metzger said about the price difference for the animal licenses.

According to the ordinance 6-26, senior citizens with a spayed or neutered animal are charged $1 for a license and senior citizens with an animal that is not spayed or neutered are charged $3 for a license. For citizens under the age of 65, the license rate is $3 for a spayed or neutered animal or $15 for animals that have not been altered.

"We don't just come up to your house and ask if an incident has occurred or if your animal has gotten loose or if someone has complained," Metzger said about leash-law enforcement. "It may just be one of those things if your animal is at large that draws our attention."

Ordinance 6-36 also allows no more than eight animals per property and no more than four of those animals may be dogs. If the four animals have not been spayed or neutered, the number of same species of animals allowed on the property decreases.

According to Metzger, officers may ask if an animal has a license and ticket an offender at their discretion. If a ticket is issued, the offender must speak with a judge to determine a fine. The fine is doubled for each consecutive offense.

Animal owners are required to provide proof of rabies and vaccination shots for animals older than three months, according to ordinance 6-26. Owners are also responsible for any property, damages, and containment of the animal in their care or the animal may be declared a nuisance according to ordinance 6-31.

In light of the long-term responsibilities and laws of pet ownership, Salter recommends students become involved in the shelter's foster animal program.

"I do believe this is the best place in the world to find a pet when you're ready," Salter said. "If you can't have a pet at home, volunteer so you can get your pet fix and make a difference."

Former Southeast student Brianna McMaster lived with her roommate and her Blue Heeler, Diesel, while attending school.

After graduating in 2010 she volunteered as an animal foster parent instead of adopting more pets.

"The biggest challenge is finding an apartment that would accept pets," McMaster said about 65-pound Diesel.

McMaster said her roommate's main complaint is the amount of pet hair Diesel sheds and the loss of almost 15 pairs of shoes between the two girls.

When McMaster has foster animals in the house she uses children's play pens to contain puppies and kittens.

Older animals may be a better choice for students who don't have as much time on their hands.

"My dog goes with me almost everywhere," Southeast senior Bobbie Piatchek said of her 7-year-old Beagle, Scout. "The hardest part is having time to take him for walks, so luckily he is an older dog so he can stay home by himself."

Piatchek said her landlord usually charges a $50 pet deposit and an extra $25 a month to keep animals.

"It's a lot of responsibility," Piatchek said. "You can't stay out all night and play."

If students want to adopt an animal from Cape Girardeau's Humane Society, they must be over 21 or prove that that are responsible, have their own house and hold a job before they can adopt a pet.

"We try to make the placements permanent," Salter said. "This animal is yours for life."