Local pet owners often abandon responsibilities

By JENNIFER BELLANTONIO
Collegian Staff Writer

Just when Fluffy, Spot or Snuggles adapted to daily feedings and new toys, they were jarred from familiar surroundings and forced onto the street.

The days of feeling warm and protected while cuddling in the arms of an owner are over. Instead, some dogs or cats aimlessly wander the streets of State College with hopes of finding a morsel to eat or maybe someone who will care for them.

"Most of the animals we receive at the shelter come from people who no longer want them for one reason or another," said John Matrisciano, manager of the local branch of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals.

Of the 2,800 animals turned into the Centre County shelter in 1994, about 588 were lost or stray and 2,251 were unwanted by an owner, Matrisciano said.

Whether it is a dog, cat, reptile or monkey, Matrisciano and other shelter employees strive to place the animal into the arms of a new owner.

"We adopted 1,348 of the animals we received last year," Matrisciano said. "Another 3 or 4 percent were returned to the original owners."

Instead of running out to the local pet store to purchase a furry friend, some individuals are going to shelters overwhelmed with lonely animals.

Jana Butterfield (junior-business management) said she plans to head to the shelters to get her feline a canine companion.

"I've gotten two of my past dogs from a shelter," Butterfield said. "They are the animals that need homes the most."

To avoid making a heartrending decision to depart from a pet, University students suggest planning and thinking before acquiring a pet.

"If (people) are going to take on a pet, they have to realize they are taking on the responsibility of another being," said Laurie Gerner (senior-English and communications).

Although Gerner adored her cat, Schempt, she was unable to keep the animal, so she made arrangements to move the cat to her parents' house.

Jennifer DiPasquale (senior-broadcast cable) also had to prepare for the future living conditions of her dog when she started at the University.

"I didn't think it was fair to keep an animal cooped up in an apartment," DiPasquale said. "So I left it (the dog) at home and my parents adopted it."

Some individuals plan a comfortable future for their furry companion, but other people may not have the time. Shirley Verhaeg, president of Promotion of Animal Welfare and Safety, said stray pets are common when owners forget about their pets and skip town, leaving the animals behind.

"I receive calls from rental agents that have found cats locked in empty apartments," Verhaeg said. "People hope that someone will come along and take care of it."

Consequently, it may not be uncommon for students or area residents to wake up and find a new roommate at their doorsteps.

And Gerner confirmed that stray animals are roaming State College. Since she moved into her apartment last August, a cat has drifted in and out of the vicinity.

"Everyone in the area knows him," Gerner said. "He is still wandering about, even in the cold winter months."

This leads to another problem -- animal overpopulation, Matrisciano said. Because there are so many animals, an individual can easily discard an animal and then replace it with another that causes less problems.

"You need to change the values of the individual who adopts pets," Matrisciano said.

Taking on responsibility, having the pet spayed or neutered and anticipating the future are some of the things that Matrisciano and Verhaeg suggest to decrease the amount of stray animals. And despite the fact that there remains stray and unwanted animals, improvements in owner responsibility are becoming more visible.

"People are becoming more aware," Matrisciano said. "The problem is not solved but it is getting better."