The Blacktip Island Humane Society closed its doors this week after Subwoofer, the shelter’s sole occupant, was adopted by local handyman Antonio Fletcher. (photo courtesy of Juan Manuel Gomez Ruano)
Blacktip Island’s Humane Society shuttered its doors Wednesday after a local resident adopted the shelter’s only dog, society officials said.
“Little Subwoofer’s been here for a while. It was great he finally got adopted,” shelter administrator Ledford Waite said. “But since ‘Tonio Fletcher took him home last week, there’s really not much point in keeping the place going. I mean, I can come in and sit at the desk all day, but what’s the point?
“The kennels and carriers are all clean, so that about does it unless another stray pops up on the island,” Waite said. “Probably go back to using the room for storage, short term. Or maybe rent it out as staff housing. Pet carriers included.
Island residents were surprised by the move.
“I didn’t realize we had a Humane Society on Blacktip,” Marina DeLow said. “I knew Led hung out there a lot and was always walking that goofy little dog, but it never occurred to me it was an animal shelter. It’s too bad it’s closed down. I guess.”
Fletcher said he hadn’t meant to cause the closing.
“Didn’t know Led was gonna do something drastic like that,” he said. “I just gave Subwoofer a permanent home. And he’s plain hell on the rats around my place. But now I got folks giving me the stink eye. It was Led’s decision, not mine.”
Island animal-rights activists, however, hailed the move.
“Having no unwanted animals on the island is a good problem to have,” Blacktip Island People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals president Harry Pickett said. “This is not so much a closing as it is a moving forward. Now that Subwoofer has a home, we can focus on other critters that need our help.
“We have a Protect the Iguanas campaign ramping up,” Pickett said. “We’re looking into the fighting the government’s efforts to eradicate the feral cats. And we’ll be starting a Save the Lionfish project, too.”
Waite said he is keeping open the option of reopening the shelter if necessary.
“People leave animals behind when they leave,” he said. “Dogs and cats, they just appear here, too. I’m still taking donations, though. For food and supplies. People need to know that. There’s no strays here now, but that could change overnight and we need to be ready.”
The Blacktip Times 