Letter to the Editor
My name is Serena, and I’m the director of the Earth County Humane Society—a small, privately run 501(c) (3) no-kill animal shelter located in Stephenville, Texas.
I’m writing today with a heavy heart and a desperate plea for help.
Our shelter was designed to house 30 dogs and 30 cats. Right now, we have 76 dogs and 57 cats in our care. We are bursting at the seams.
We often have to turn away members of our community who come to us with stray or unwanted animals.
We put them on a waiting list, but that list is now almost a year long. By the time we call them back with an open kennel, the animal is often gone.
Gone where? That question haunts me. Were they dumped in the country?
Did they suffer alone? Were they killed by cars, disease, or cruelty?
Did they die slowly and in fear—worse than humane euthanasia?
I lose sleep thinking about the fates of the ones we couldn’t help in time.
Our shelter is floodprone, and when it rains, our dogs stand in water and mud. We have dogs living in temporary wire kennels, some deteriorating from long-term stress. Our staff is emotionally drained, constantly facing the pain of saying “we can’t help” when everything inside us wants to say yes.
We feel helpless. We are exhausted. But we haven’t given up.
Every animal in our care is spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated, microchipped, and tested for heartworm if they’re over a year old. We work tirelessly to prepare them for forever homes— but we need your help to get them there.
If you can adopt, please adopt.
If you can foster, please foster.
If you can donate, every dollar matters.
If you can share this, you might save a life.
We know shelters across Texas are overwhelmed. We know you’re asked to give all the time. But I am begging you—please don’t look away. Every animal deserves safety, love, and dignity. Help us continue to fight for that. https://venmo.com/echs19 https://www.aplos.com/ aws/ give/ ErathCountyHum aneSociety.