Animals finding comfort, not death, at shelter

IVINS, Washington County — Lost and abandoned animals who wind up at the Ivins City Animal Shelter could be some of the luckiest creatures on Earth.

Just ask "Parley," a goofy, 6-year-old border collie mix with a crooked leg and limp to match.

"His family staked him in the back yard and then left," said Linda Elwell, who regularly volunteers at the Ivins Animal Shelter. "He was hit by a car when he was a puppy and they never got his leg fixed, so he walks with a limp. He's kind of our mascot."

Parley's new life as the shelter's top dog also means he's going to live. And that's a big deal since Parley could have met a different fate at many of the other animal shelters.

St. George charges residents $5 to drop off unwanted animals or $15 if the city is asked to pick up the animal. Non-residents can also drop off animals at the St. George shelter, although they're charged $25 to do so. Euthanization of any animal costs $20, according to the shelter's price list.

Farther north in Iron County, the Enoch animal shelter continues to use car exhaust pumped into concrete rooms to put down unclaimed dogs. The controversial method is defended by city leaders and its animal control officer as humane. Animal rights advocates argue the toxic fumes cause distress and a painful death.

Stray animals taken to the Ivins shelter meet compassion, not their doom, Elwell said. In fact, thanks to the many volunteers and with the support of city administrators, the Ivins Animal Shelter has become more of a pet sanctuary than a holding cell for unwanted animals, she said.

"We're trying to go in that direction. Our police chief wants to do that; he even adopted a cat from the shelter," Elwell said. "The thing that makes me feel good about this is it's not just an Ivins thing. It's crossed community lines, and people are starting the see the change and are getting excited about it."

Ivins City Manager Judy Gubler said the goal is simple.

"We are operating our shelter on a no-kill policy basis as much as can," she said. "The only reluctance we have with the no-kill policy is when it comes to public safety. Sometimes there's no other option than to put down an animal."

But there should be very few cases when that happens, said shelter volunteer Connie Butterfield.