Put a Little Love into Your Life

Humane Society Matches Pets and New Owners

The Humane Society of Harlingen exists for the sole purpose of providing shelter for animals that have fallen upon hard times. All they need and want is a new master and a good dose of tender loving care. The Society invites people to visit and learn about their work, and, perhaps, take home a cuddly, little fuzz ball to join the family.

Many of the dogs and cats are being cared for temporarily because they were abandoned, lost, or stolen. Sometimes, irresponsible owners just dump unwanted animals in neighborhoods and turn their backs on their pets, which depend on their master. That is patently unfair to the animal, as most of them suffer terribly and are further abused or die pitifully on the streets. And it is so unnecessary.

That is where the dedicated volunteers at the Harlingen Humane Society, and perhaps, you, can enter the picture. “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”–that is the motto of the hard-working volunteers at the shelter located at 1106 Markowsky street in Harlingen.

Executive Director Kim Warunek said, “We receive beautiful animals here all the time–animals that would make someone an excellent, loving pet. We require a small fee to adopt one of our animals. The fee is to cover the cost of their shots, de-worming and identifications,” she added.

Warunek stressed the importance of having your fuzzy-faced family member micro chipped. This can be done during regular business hours 7 days a week–Monday through Friday 12:00-6:00 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00-5:00 p.m.

The director added that if an animal you know needs a home or you can’t take care of it yourself, you are encouraged, in fact, urged to take it to the shelter. “That is why we exist–to handle cases like that.” she said, adding, “there are many opportunities to actively participate in the program as volunteers. Many lovingly donate a few hours each week to walk the dogs, bathe and clean them, and do routine paper work. The age limit for volunteers is 18 years.

The kennel manager took the writer for a tour of the facility: The “Cat room” was first. The problem here for visitors is that they want to take them all home. The problem got worse when we entered the “Puppy Room.” Warunek explained that some cats and dogs are turned-in by their owners (OTIs). Others are turned in by concerned citizens (CTIs). Animal Control Officers also regularly turn in many lovely animals. “Many appear to be purebreds, and then she added, just for the record, “We’ve never seen an active case of Rabies.”

“We constantly get calls from frantic owners calling to see if their lost “Fluffy,” “Sylvester,” “Fido” o “Napoleon” is here,” she said, adding–”and many times they are!”
“We appreciate news media support with things like: your Cricket’s Corner feature each week in the LA FERIA NEWS. Channel Four and Channel Five show dogs and cats each week on their late news programs,” she said. “We also send pets to PETSMART in McAllen where they are offered for adoption.”

Next on the tour came the “Green Room.” This is a special “beauty parlor”, if you will, for dogs who are going on television or otherwise having their picture taken–“the girls just love it.!”

“On the other hand,” she explained, if we get a dangerous acting dog–we keep him for 10 days, and if no one shows up to claim him, he must be euthanized,” she said. ”That is just the way it is.”

Question: Where does all the food to feed these animals come from? “Glad you asked that,” she replied. “You’d be surprised to know that big-time companies like WALMART in Harlingen and San Benito, HEB stores, TRACTOR SUPPLIES, AND TARGET stores give us truckloads of pet foods that have been damaged, or have a torn bag, or some other cosmetic defect.”

Warunek repeated that the Humane Society is always looking for dedicated volunteers who love animals and want to help. “The animals need to be walked, bathed and loved until somebody makes a new home for them,” she said. “If readers would like to volunteer or ask questions, just call me at 425-PAWS (956) 425 7297.