Over the last few years, I have spoken to many groups and organizations about the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society. Somehow, I feel like I am not reaching the people I need to be reaching.

So, here is my message — if you have an unwanted animal in your home or neighborhood, please, please do not dump that animal on the side of the road, and please do not attempt to destroy the animal by shooting it.

I spent Thursday morning in justice court testifying about the injuries suffered by a dog who had been set on fire by someone who wanted the dog to go away from his home.

That afternoon I received a call from someone who watched a person dump a dog on Lower Woodville Road and almost immediately the dog ran after the car that dumped it, and it got hit. Less than a week ago, I received a phone call about a dog that had been shot. It seems that the dog bit someone and someone shot and seriously injured it.

We are constantly called to situations where a dog has been shot by someone, and the result is a seriously injured, angry dog. Shooting a dog very seldom results in death. It results in an injured, angry dog that is in pain, and it can be quite dangerous.

I know that people do not like to think about euthanasia, but believe me, it is more humane than being set on fire, hit by a car and left injured on the side of the road, shot or starved to death.

At the NACHS Shelter, which is located at 392 Liberty Road, we have three or four drop off pens for your convenience. You can take the unwanted animal and place it in one of these drop off pens, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will do our absolute best to see that the animal is cared for in a humane manner. If you cannot catch the animal, then call the appropriate agency to handle it for you.

If you live in the city, call Animal Control. If you live in the county, call the sheriff’s office and they will relay the message to us and we will come pick up the animal.

I cannot imagine why anyone would try to shoot an animal or dump an animal out on some county road when the solution to the problem is so readily available.

It is so hard to see animals treated this way, but we at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society are committed to meeting the needs of these unwanted animals. There is nothing that we would like more than to be in a situation where euthanasia was not necessary, but until the public realizes that they must spay and neuter their animals, we will continue to be overrun with these poor creatures.

Until we reach this point, please help us to help these creatures by using our drop off pens and services.

Nan Garrison

vice president, Natchez-Adams County Humane Society