Still tallying totals from all of the excitement at the Richland County Fairgrounds over the weekend with the Strutt Your Mutt event, the results are so far so good, looking to match last year’s approximate amount of $13,000.
This fundraiser serves as the major source of finances for the Humane Society of Richland County and benefits costs such as housing, utilities, payroll, food, medical assistance, vehicle maintenance.
HSRC Supervisor Missy Houghton stated that Strutt Your Mutt boasted an attendance of 500-600 people over Sept. 7 and 8.
As a result of the event, a visitor chose to take one of the sheltered puppies home for a two-week trial period, and there was also interest piqued in two other sheltered dogs that were taken to the event.
Houghton mentioned, “It’s nice when [the dogs] get a chance to be around everyone and be out in the sunshine.” These dogs have been rescued from some sort of neglect, abuse, or abandonment; each of which enjoyed socializing with other dogs and dog lovers at the event.
The typical adoption rate for dogs housed at the humane society is 8-15 dogs a month. This past August the humane society saw an increase in the amount of dogs rescued, taking in about 20 dogs in 11 days.
“We got a lot in with that rush, so we’re really full right now,” stated Houghton.
She advised, “[The HSRC] is just a stopping ground. This is not where a dog should spend a lot of its time. And it’s all about the quality of the time you spend with them. Not every dog has to have someone with it all the time. That would be ideal, but it’s not the case. As long as they’re a part of your family, they’re going to be okay.”
And while the HSRC welcomes all types of breeds, including boxers, labs, cattle dogs, mastiffs, and Chihuahuas, the most common breed seen there currently is pit bulls.
Referring to the pit bulls, Houghton stated, “Those can be more difficult to adopt out, not because the dog is bad, but there are lot of preconceived notions about them that aren’t true, so people may be leery about them.”
She went on to state, “We deal with hundreds of dogs each year and pit bulls are the ones that we have the least problems with when we’re approaching them on the property or removing them.”
In addition to canines, the humane society shelters cats, ranging from 80-300 cats housed a month, along with birds, snakes, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and potbelly pigs.
Given this and the fact that Strutt Your Mutt pools a lot of support, the HSRC is already looking ahead to next year’s event, which is set to be held on Saturday, Sept. 13 – Sunday, Sept. 14.
“Every year we try to make it bigger, so we’re already trying to figure out what else we can bring next year.”
“This is not where a dog should spend a lot of its time. And it’s all about the quality of the time you spend with them,” stated Missy Houghton.
