Sarge’s Relationship with Haywood County Animal Shelter

Sarge’s has always worked closely with the Haywood County Animal Shelter, which has been and is the primary source of animals coming into Sarge’s care.

It was well-known that the old Haywood County Animal Shelter, dating back to 1988, had become inadequate and outdated to care for the volume of animals coming through its doors. Building a new Haywood County Animal Shelter was approved by the county commissioners September, 2016.

During the county’s process of considering building a new animal shelter, the Haywood County commissioners and HCAS proposed that Sarge’s become the ‘official adoption partner’ of the new county animal shelter. It was recognized that Sarge’s expertise and professionalism in animal adoptions would be an asset to the county shelter.

At its March 2018 annual meeting, Sarge’s announced the agreement with Haywood County that Sarge’s personnel will manage the adoption side of the new shelter. The result is that Sarge’s professionals will facilitate a great majority of dog and cat adoptions in the county.

Sarge’s present Industrial Park Drive Adoption Center will continue to provide needed shelter capacity and adoptions. There is such a need for homeless dogs and cats in Haywood County, more capacity is needed than just the new county shelter.

The county will now administer the same basic medical protocol used by Sarge’s, upgrading the care every animal receives before adoption from the shelter. And, Sarge’s will expand its focus to resolve animal behavior issues, as needed.

In addition, Sarge’s is committed to supporting area programs, such as spay/neuter initiatives to help alleviate the need for dogs and cats to even enter the Adoption Center/Shelter.

The new Haywood County Animal Shelter, on Jones Cove Road, opened April, 2018.

The need for funding continues

Since the HCAS is not funded for more advanced medical or behavioral rehabilitation needs, many of those cases will flow to Sarge’s, requiring funding for the medical attention, and for the extended hold periods associated with socialization and behavioral challenges.

When considering donating to Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation, think about the facts:

• The average length-of-stay per animal is increasing significantly for the Haywood County Animal Shelter and for Sarge’s.
• Longer stays mean Sarge’s will need to house more animals than in the past. Two-and-a-half years ago, Sarge’s average overnight population was 12-15 dogs; now 40 or more is not out of the ordinary.
• The need to feed, clean, walk, administer medical, and perform administrative procedures will be larger, and staff must be well-trained.
• Accordingly, Sarge’s now has multiple vet techs and a certified behaviorist on staff.
• Medical expenses are higher, as Sarge’s treats conditions like heartworms, parvo, and having dental issues resolved.
• Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation is now able to place many more of the wonderful, but sometimes under-appreciated, breeds such as hounds and pit bull terriers.

This expanded-care path will allow the HCAS and Sarge’s to continue to achieve the high live-release rates currently in place.

Please consider adopting, fostering, volunteering and donating to Sarge’s. It’s all about the animals.