Protecting the Pets
by Stephen Hauck
CBS 42 News
2007-11-28 20:00:00.0
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Consider yourself a pet lover? If so, chances are your affinity for your furry friends doesn't come close to one Shelby County woman. Sonya Smith has dedicated her life to finding homes for unwanted animals, and educating the public about the shocking pet over-population here in Alabama.
The numbers are shocking. An estimated five million dogs and cats are euthanized in U.S. shelters every year. That's one about every six seconds. Smith's daily existence is driven by her attempt to put a dent in those numbers, by finding good homes for unwanted pets, getting them fixed, and spreading her message to anyone who will listen.
It's a never-ending process for Smith. On this day, she tried unsuccessfully to capture two stray puppies that will mature and reproduce more unwanted pets.
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"It may take one more day, it may take a couple weeks, but I'll get 'em," said Smith.
All you need is five minutes with this pet passionate woman, and you'll know what fuels her focus for living.
"I think all of us have a passion for something and mine is animals, and I am a fixer type personality, and so I like being involved in the things that I can make a difference," said Smith.
Smith spends nearly every waking hour working towards her seemingly unachievable goal.
"Rescuing animals for me really just makes my heart beat, and if you don't have anything in your life that really makes your heart beat, I suggest you find something," said Smith.
She runs "Two by Two Rescue" in Shelby County where she finds homes for unwanted pets. Unlike humane societies, where more than half of animals are euthanized, she's able to spare them that fate until she can place them in a loving home.
"The animals are safe here. We're the only no-kill animal control in the country," said Smith.
Smith works alongside other volunteers who share the same goal, like Laurie Bell, who moved here from Wisconsin and was stunned by the pet overpopulation in Alabama.
"I've never lived in a state where I've seen so many strays just abandoned on the side of the road," said Bell.
And that's why Bell has joined Smith's efforts.
"I believe as a teacher that we should do it as early as we can in the classroom, in the community, to teach compassion and love and responsibility for being a pet owner," said Bell.
"We just need to promote education and we need to wipe apathy off the books as far as animals are concerned," said Smith.
Smith doesn't get much time for rest. When she's not literally chasing animals to save them or leaving food for strays that she knows frequent certain locations, she's busy responding to countless requests from people hoping she can help their pets.
"Every day, from sun up to sun down, I get requests like this, a lot of time I can't even open them because I know I can't help the dogs and it wears me out emotionally," said Smith.
But fortunately for her sanity, there are plenty of success stories. After seven years of trying to capture one female hound-dog, and literally 100 puppies later, she was finally trapped and spayed.
And on another day, although the puppies got away, Smith was able to capture their mother to get her fixed, taking away the potential for future litters of unwanted puppies.
"Awesome! Good work! One less mama to reproduce in this world," said Smith.
Smith says the pet over-population problem in Alabama stems from numerous issues, including: The lack of tough leash laws and pet licensing laws as well as pet owners' lack of knowledge on how important it is to get their pets fixed.
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