Monticello Live

To the Editor:

The issues surrounding animal welfare can be complex and it is understandable that there can occasionally be misunderstandings or discrepancies in the information that is communicated, at no fault to anyone. While we fully appreciate the hard work and dedication of our city and county’s leaders, we would just like to take this opportunity to address some of the misinformation that has been circulating about Monticello 2nd Chance Fur Dogs over the last couple of months and, especially, since the last city council meeting.

First and foremost, 2nd Chance has worked tirelessly over the last 10 years to ensure that every dog in need is provided the upmost care. We truly believe that our efforts have not only saved countless animal lives, but also contributed positively to the health and happiness of the community as a whole. We strongly feel that we all share the same goal for the place we call home – a safe, thriving city, where every living being is treated with compassion and respect.

While the intention may have been to bring transparency to the issues at hand, the information presented was misleading and painted an inaccurate picture of 2nd Chance’s operations. It’s crucial that the public be given the full picture — one based on all the facts.

In reference to the questions regarding the free water usage, 2nd Chance has never abused the water provided to the shelter. That being said, we do need water, whether it’s washing and cleaning dog kennels, giving baths to the dogs, or providing the dogs with plenty of fresh, clean water to drink. However, the majority of the 12 million gallons of water usage can be attributed to a continuous water leak at the meter that runs into a creek. It has been reported numerous times throughout the past 5 years. Regardless of who is providing the care for the dogs, the water usage would be the same because the Animal Control Officer would still have to humanely care for the dogs.

Next, concerns were raised over 2nd Chance’s financial records, specifically the amount of revenue generated by 2nd Chance, as shown on our tax returns. While the revenue figure was accurate, without a full view of both the income and expenses, it is impossible to understand an accurate picture of 2nd Chance’s financial health. Like any nonprofit, our goal is not to make a profit but to just break even, while ensuring the animals are cared for until they can hopefully be placed in loving homes. Most of the dogs that 2nd Chance has helped have been neglected, abused, or abandoned and are not found in the best overall health, so, it’s no wonder that the money we spend for vet care accounts for at least 75% of our funding, followed by dog/puppy food, vaccination supplies, wormer and other medications.

2nd Chance relies solely on volunteers, donations, grants and support from the community. Without acknowledging the full scope of expenses, the public was left with a skewed view that was neither fair nor accurate. It’s easy to point to a number on a tax return or to claim misuse of resources without diving deeper into the details. Any amount that we have left over, when all expenses have been taken care of, goes directly back into 2nd Chance’s account to further benefit our mission. It is also important to note that not a single penny of our funding or donations are ever used to pay any of 2nd Chance’s volunteers. 2nd Chance has always been happy to work with the city and to step in to help when no one else would, whether it was keeping strays/lost dogs off the streets, rescuing dogs from an abusive situation, or searching for hours to find a litter of puppies that were dumped in the middle of nowhere. It’s also a fact that, when a dog is taken in by 2nd Chance, that’s just the beginning of our time spent with each one, providing them with care and compassion, housing and feeding them, and ensuring they receive the medical care they need, including vaccinations and wormer. It’s also a widely held misconception that the only dogs 2nd Chance is responsible for are the dogs housed at the current shelter at any given time, which has 24 kennels total, 5 of which have to be left vacant for the animal control officer’s use. If the number of dogs brought in exceeds the available kennel space, the rescue is responsible for finding fosters for those extra dogs. While no dog that is found or picked up outside of the city limits can be kept at the city’s shelter, 2nd chance has been able to help people who reside anywhere within Drew County through our foster program. At this time, with the help of our fosters, we have over 100 dogs in our care.

We realize that animal rescue, while vital, is costly and requires community support. The misinformation given at the recent city council meeting might have been unintentional, but, it has done a disservice to the hard-working individuals who have worked tirelessly, saving more than 10,000 dogs over the last 10 years. Transparency is crucial in any community dialogue, but it’s equally important that the information is presented accurately and fairly. Let’s come together to support those who make our city better, rather than casting shadows of doubt where none need exist. We hope to move forward with kindness, understanding, and a shared commitment to the betterment of Monticello and Drew County.

We welcome any questions or comments the community might have and want you to feel free to contact us at any of the numbers below.

Rebecca Novak

(210) 394-5587

Kathy Lou Engelkes

(870) 723-1293

Kind Regards,

Monticello 2nd Chance Fur Dogs