By Randal Curtman
Managing Editor
EL DORADO — The Union County Animal Protection Society needs a number of facility improvements, but finding the funding for those needed upgrades in the near future is unlikely.
“When the original building was built, it was just a stand-alone building,” said Sandra Maguire, president of UCAPS, on Thursday.
“Then the back kennels were added one wing at a time.”
Five years ago UCAPS began a project to build the new kennels in front of the UCAPS building, Maguire said. The L-shape row of kennels took four years to complete. “We had to get the money and then get the work done,” Maguire said.
“We didn’t have the funds, so we had to do it in pieces,” she said of the kennel construction. “The county did help with dirt work and things like that when they could, and Medlin’s Metal Roofing donated materials.”
Another person sold UCAPS cinder blocks at cost, but it still cost quite a bit to build the new kennels.
“The goal was when those got built, we would be able to empty the back set of kennels then focus on repairing them, but that hasn’t happened because we have gotten so many animals,” MaGuire said.
UCAPS was incorporated as an “open admissions” shelter in 1985 to serve as an animal rescue, and to provide adoption and education programs to Union County.
Shelter Manager Tanja Jackson said UCAPS adopts out about 20-30 animals a month, while they take in about 50 animals a month.
“We have over 300 animals here now, and we really are set up for about 200,” Jackson said.
The fencing around the back kennels needs to be replaced, and several of the pens are held together with wire, Maguire said.
“When I stared working with shelter, and prior to that, the number of animals was not as great as it is now,” Maguire said.
She said one cause of animal overpopulation is the lack of local enforcement of animal control laws.
“We need to enforce laws, and we need to have stronger animal control,” Maguire said. “A big portion of our job is to educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets to control the animal population.”
Instituting a dog license and rabies tag requirement would be a first step toward instituting a more effective animal control program in El Dorado and Union County.
The city used to have a license program but it was dropped that when the animal control officers were moved out from under the auspices of the Police Department and put under contract basis, she said. “That probably was a money-saving move, and it probably made sense in a lot of ways,” she said. But now there is not record of animals within the city.
Maguire said residents in other areas of the country can’t comprehend how Arkansas has an overflow of pets, “just like people around here can’t comprehend they have a shortage up North.”
Maguire said pets from the Paws In Prison program, an animal training and adoption program in which UCAPS participates, are routinely adopted by people in the Northeast — especially in big cities like New York and Boston.
“Today we had one dog flown to Vancouver, British Columbia,” Maguire said. “He went through the Paws in Prison program, and we coordinated with various people to get the dog flown up there to them.”
Two years ago another dog was transported up to Vancouver from UCAPS. “People so impressed with that dog, their neighbors and friends said, “we want one!’”
Adoption fees for local residents are $100, which is just a portion of what it costs to get an animal its needed veterinarian care prior to adoption.
“I can’t tell you how many times Tanja, myself or staff members get fussed at,” Maguire said. “They want the dog, want to give it a good home, but don’t want to pay an adoption fee for it. They’ll say, ‘I thought you were a charity.’ We’re not a charity, we’re a non-profit.We still have to pay bills.”
The City of El Dorado contributes no money toward the operation of UCAPS, although they used to, Maguire said.
On the other hand, Union County gives the shelter $10,000 each year toward operations, and helps with various projects, Maguire said.
Operating UCAPS costs about $200,000 a year, and the bulk of the shelter’s money comes from donations by businesses and residents.
With the budget being what it is, money for renovations at the facility are not likely to be forthcoming any time soon.
“We want people to understand when they give us a donation, we squeeze it for all it’s worth,” Maguire said.
Payroll for staff is kept at a minimum, and workers at UCAPS were even bringing their own toilet paper from home so none of the shelter’s budget would be spent on non-animal supplies.
“These are really great people, we have a wonderful staff,” Maguire said. “No one does this kind of work unless they really have a heart for the animals.”
Maguire said in the near future, UCAPS hopes to construct a dog park outside the facility where the shelter animals can walk and play, and where people looking for an animal can interact and play with the dog they are thinking of adopting.
The shelter also need to redo the fencing around the back kennels, and Maguire said she hopes a local fencing company can give them a good deal on the work. “Even at reduced cost fencing, we are probably still looking at $10,000 to $15,000,” she said. “The last time we had new fencing installed, it cost $17,000.”
In the meantime, UCAPS still can use the public’s help in meeting its goal of providing a quality animal shelter.
“Foster families are a big need,” Maguire said. “This means that a person/family agrees to foster a dog for a designated period of time. Sometimes it is a dog selected for the Paws in Prison program and needs to have more socialization and just get a head start on being in a home environment.”
Fostering is usually done for three to four weeks. Fostering is also needed for mother dogs with puppies.
“They will thrive with more attention and care. This can be from three to five weeks,” she said.
Foster families are also needed when a dog or cat is recovering from an injury or surgery and needs a home environment and lots of TLC, Maguire said.
“Foster families are given the support from UCAPS. We provide food, vet care and everything needed for the animal’s health care. Foster families provide the love and attention,” she said.
Other needs at UCAPS include hay and blankets (new or used) for the winter. “The outside pens are either concrete or gravel and a bed of hay is extremely helpful,” Maguire said.
The shelter can also always use cleaning supplies: bleach, laundry powder, paper towels, hand sanitizer, buckets, mops, heavy duty brooms and heavy duty hoses.
“Our employees would greatly appreciate coveralls, boots, and gloves for the winter weather,” she said.
If you would like to volunteer your time, foster an animal or make a donation to the shelter, contact UCAPS at 870-862-0502 or visit the website ucapsshelter.org.
Randal Curtman is the managing editor of the El Dorado News-Times and may be reached at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].