| By Gary Coberly
The Humane Society of Gilmer County [HSGC] has incorporated in central West Virginia. There was no animal organization here before. We are currently filing for 501(c) 3 non-profit status.
Our County Commission's appointed dogcatcher does his job well. He catches stray dogs, takes them to his remote farm where they are chained to unheated "dog boxes" for a minimum of five days. A list (no photos) is posted in the hall of the Gilmer County Courthouse - no further postings. Very few are retrieved - most people don't know we have a dogcatcher or how to find him. After five days he takes them to a neighboring county where the majority are quickly put down.
This meets state code, but we feel it is not enough. Forty-eight of our fifty-five counties have animal shelters and/or humane societies. If they can behave more responsibly, so can we!
The Humane Society of Gilmer County wants to be animal-friendly - cats in playrooms instead of wire cages, dogs with outdoor runs and a pond. We reject "no-kill" because of the admission policies and will be a "no-suffer" organization instead. HSGC wants to construct a "green" shelter and are looking at a property with clear southern exposure and geothermal possibilities.
We have begun networking with the local federal prison, Paws4prisoners, Glenville State College, 4H and other local groups plus FOHO-WV, HSUS, ASPCA and more. We have already begun supplying the dogcatcher with dog food (which was an out-of-pocket expense for him.) HSGC has tried a photo-poster program and returned two stray dogs to their grateful owners.
We need help of all kinds. Of course financial, but also people with the time and desire to work with us. Contact president Gary Coberly at gcc1@hughes.net or 304-462-8346. Send donations to: HSGC, PO Box 1055, Glenville, WV 26351.
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