Animal lover gives voices to pets at shelter

As published in theDaily News 
October 18, 2005
Sarah Viran

Texas City  – Laurine Murtagh gives voice to the dogs and cats, puppies and kittens at Galveston County’s animal shelter in Texas City.

Literally.

Each Wednesday the self-proclaimed animal lover strolls through the shelter’s cages, eying the new rescues and christening them with names like “Silly Cindy” and “Tiger.”

“What will we call her? Something German,” Murtagh, 73, asked aloud in her slight Irish accent while standing in front of the cage of a droopy-looking dachshund.

“Gretchen,” she said after a few seconds. “I dub thee Gretchen.”

Then she scribbled that name and a few notes on a clipboard decorated with a faded Jesus sticker.

When Murtagh leaves the shelter each Wednesday, she pens a few sentences in the “voice” of each of these charges.

“I have to keep it at three sentences so I do a lot of editing,” she said.

These write-ups are sent off to rescue groups and printed in the classifieds section of The Daily News with the address and phone number of the shelter.

Murtagh said she started the campaign about six years ago after watching pet after pet go unadopted. Eventually these animals are euthanized.

“If they have a name, it makes them more attractive,” she said.

And giving voice to the animals doesn’t hurt either.

In last Wednesday’s classifieds, for instance, “Boxer Boy” told his potential new owner: “I’m a pure-bred Boxer in brindle coloring who’d give anything to get away from these noisy dogs ’round here. Think how much joy we’d have walking the beach and then loafing after your day’s work.”

The shelter, which typically keeps about 60 dogs and 50 cats, has been in Texas City for 12 years, but Murtagh said the facility has improved considerably in recent years.

Shelter Director Michele Reynolds, who took over a year and a half ago, did some house cleaning, hiring employees who “care about the animals” and increasing adoption efforts.

She also extended the hours until 7 p.m. Tuesdays and until 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, which makes it easier for people to visit after work.

Many of these soon-to-be pet owners come through the shelter doors with Murtagh’s classified listings in hand.

“She’s an angel,” Reynolds said.

Murtagh waved off the compliment. Then she reached down to pet a skinny puppy that had just been dropped off and was already looking for a new home

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org