Advocates for stray dog decry gaps in Lawrence’s animal control services

Animal advocates followed Shebah the dog’s plight as she ran loose in the cold November.

As she made her way across Lawrence, Shebah appeared in social media photos that revealed hip bones and ribs thrusting against her fur — signs of malnourishment. Her teets hung low, weighed down and engorged. At some point, she’d been separated from a young litter.

Shebah evaded several attempts by Lawrence Humane Society staff, officers and community members to rescue her; however, at least one family successfully connected with the dog. They delivered Shebah to the Lawrence Humane Society the first time on Nov. 18.

Animal Control then authorized release of Shebah to someone who identified themself as her owner. But, soon, Shebah was running loose again.

On Sunday, Nov. 26, Shebah entered the automatic doors of Lawrence Laundromat at least twice after noon, according to its owner, who posted a photo of the dog on social media. With snow on the ground, temperatures hovered that afternoon in the mid-30s.

The laundromat’s owner called dispatch but said they were told no Animal Control officers were on duty, and they wouldn’t be available to respond to the call until the next day — Monday, Nov. 27.

“They said that there’s nothing they can do,” the owner recalled.

In the meantime, a patrol officer would respond, but if the animal were captured, the officer could not transport Shebah to the shelter inside a patrol vehicle, said the owner, who asked that their name not be published.

Animal control after hours 

In general, animal control officers work daytime hours, seven days a week and subject to staff availability, according to the City of Lawrence’s website. The page tells residents to phone dispatch at 785-832-7509 to report at-large or captured animals, and Lawrence Humane Society “should be called for after hours situations involving injured animals.”

“Pretty disappointed with the city services available,” the laundromat’s owner then placed a second call to the shelter, and the call went to dispatch. This time the owner asked for help with an unhealthy, malnourished dog at-large. With no Animal Control staff on duty, shelter staff intervened.

Shannon Wells, executive director of Lawrence Humane Society, arrived at the scene near 25th and Louisiana streets. Wells said Shebah was looking inside trash containers and probably foraging for food. Wells said she saw Shebah vomit — likely due to “garbage gut” caused by consuming trash.

Despite efforts by the patrol officer, Wells and community members, they couldn’t lure Shebah into safety that day.

Community members and Wells praised the patrol officer for covering a lot of ground in an attempt to locate the dog’s owner or bring the dog into custody.

“He was walking for like an hour and a half, honestly,” Wells said.

The next day, Nov. 27, the family that had delivered Shebah to the shelter nine days before again lured her into their vehicle and returned the dog to the humane society.

The advocate, who asked that their name not be published, described Shebah’s situation as “heartbreaking.” Concerned the dog could be released and run loose again, they said they were determined to keep an eye on the dog’s case but acknowledged they weren’t privy to the dog’s entire history.

“I’m only coming from the person that rescued the dog,” the advocate said. “So yeah, and I just want the best for her.”

Lawrence resident Sara Garlick, also an animal advocate, said Shebah’s “skin and bones mama dog” appearance threw up red flags that led her to reach out to a news reporter after seeing photos of the non-microchipped dog on social media. Garlick and fellow advocates questioned the motives of the dog’s owner.

The advocates flooded social media with messages of solidarity and demanded Shebah not be released to her owner or bred again. They phoned Animal Control and Lawrence Humane Society to voice their concerns.

“But this certain mama needs a better home suited to her needs. And of course, her pups!” Garlick said.

Wells said she appreciated the community’s concern for Shebah and felt grateful for the compassion people in Lawrence have shown for animals in the four years since she began work at the shelter.

Wells holds a master’s degree in veterinary forensics and previously worked at Kansas City Pet Project for eight years. Wells said in the metro, it was common to see dogs chained up as well as strays running in packs, unlike Lawrence.

Animal advocates here tend to take a “see something, say something” approach, Wells said, although they might not always know who to call or where to direct their concerns.

“But I think it all comes from a really compassionate place. And so, to that end, I think I’m grateful that people have that sort of level of passion,” she said.

The growing need for resources

Animal shelters across the country are overflowing, in part due to inflation and the growing housing crisis. In Lawrence, lack of shelter space has spawned deeply discounted adoption fee specials at the nonprofit shelter in an attempt to free up kennels.

Wells pointed out the rising need for shelter services to help residents keep their pets at home. Some include Crisis Pet Retention Program, medical, surgical and vaccination clinics. Through Thursday, Dec. 14, those programs at the shelter have served 2,679 animals this year compared to 1,865 in 2022 and 1,332 in 2021. That’s in addition to a pet pantry that distributes about five tons of pet food each month. Wells views these services as forms of “intake diversion.”

“We provide them to increase the health and welfare of pets in the community and to prevent unwanted litters of animals entering the shelter, animals being surrendered due to illness, animals being surrendered due to hardship, and animals confiscated due to animal neglect,” according to a report compiled by Wells.

Since 2018, the City of Lawrence has contracted with the humane society to provide assistance with ill and injured animals after hours; receive stray animals within city limits from the public and Animal Control officers; provide food, water, shelter and veterinary care of animals received; and take ownership of unclaimed animals. In exchange for those services, the city pays the shelter a negotiated fee. In 2022, a proposed cut of $100,000 led shelter supporters to rally against a City Hall budget recommendation that never came to fruition, although Animal Control staffing has since been reduced from three full-time officer positions to two.

The annual fee paid to the shelter by the city in 2024 is budgeted at $420,000, up from $365,000 in 2022 and 2023. Total budget for Animal Control in 2024 is $607,000. That includes salaries of $107,000; internal service fees of $80,000; and the contract payment, according to Laura McCabe, spokesperson for Lawrence Police Department.

From Jan. 1 through Dec. 14, 2023, Lawrence Humane Society impounded 2,396 animals within city limits. For comparison, 2,541 animals were impounded in 2022, and 2,179 in 2021. In addition to strays, impounded animals were those born in care, confiscated, euthanized by owner request, owner surrendered, returned adoptions, quarantined because of bites, trapped/neutered/released, and transferred in from other shelters.

Wells said the statistics for impounded animals represent instances rather than individual animals. Shebah, for example, was impounded twice and therefore counted twice in these numbers.

Statistics show the majority of stray animals impounded within city limits arrived via the public or the shelter’s contract services. Of the 1,303 Lawrence strays in 2021, 32% were brought in by Animal Control. In 2022, 23% of the shelter’s 1,431 strays came in through Animal Control. So far in 2023, 13% of the shelter’s 1,314 Lawrence strays have entered the shelter through Animal Control.

McCabe said the city employs two full-time Animal Control officers. Patrol officers serve as backup when needed.

“One position opened in November but, thankfully, we’ve already interviewed several qualified candidates and hope to have it filled by the end of December,” McCabe said in an email.

“We work diligently with the Lawrence Humane Society and our Patrol Unit to manage the sporadic animal control workload,” McCabe said. “As a Police Department with staffing 24/7, we’re fortunate to always have someone available for urgent needs and Animal Control Officers are also subject to call back. We’re also grateful to our caring community members and the Lawrence Humane Society who are willing to help when officers are on other calls.”

The City of Topeka, for comparison, employs four full-time Animal Control officers in the field and one full-time desk position. Services are provided between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callbacks are available after hours and on weekends.

Another chance

During Shebah’s second stay at the shelter, no one stepped forward to reclaim her within the mandatory hold period for at-large animals. Lawrence Humane Society is now her owner, and 10 days after her second admission to the shelter, Shebah was spayed. She’ll never be separated from a litter again.

Wells estimated Shebah came into the shelter about 5 pounds underweight. Shelter staff are working with the dog to help her beef up, heal from her surgery and assess her readiness for adoption. Shebah is a shy but friendly dog who’s approximately 7 years old.

“We are hopeful she’ll be an adoption candidate soon,” Wells said.

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Lawrence City Code prohibits cruelty to animals and defines abandonment as leaving “an animal without demonstrated or apparent intent to recover or resume custody; to leave an animal for more than 12 hours without providing adequate food and shelter for the duration of the absence; or to turn out or release an animal for the purpose of causing it to be impounded.” Penalties for animal cruelty convictions range from $250 to $1,000 and up to 180 days imprisonment.

Fines for at-large animals range from $75 for first conviction to $500 for the fourth and any subsequent convictions. City code allows known owners to reclaim at-large animals during a hold period of five business days; animals who appear “to be at-large with no owner” have three business days to reclaim at-large animals. Impoundment fees for the first 24 hours range from $10 for a first offense to $40 for a fourth and any subsequent offense, plus an additional fee of $20 if the animal is not spayed or neutered.

Lawrence residents who suspect an animal is being abused can contact City of Lawrence Animal Control via dispatch at 785-832-7509. Outside Lawrence city limits, Douglas County residents can reach the shelter’s Humane Investigations division by calling 785-371-0473.

Tricia Masenthin (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at tmasenthin (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.

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