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EKY Animal Shelter Calling On Community To Stop Overcrowding

PERRY COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - The Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter in Perry County has dealt with overcrowding for a long time.

However, Shelter President Tony Vaughn said it got so bad recently they had to stop taking in animals. He added the thought of euthanasia is not fair to the shelter pets.

"You look in their eyes and you think about putting them down," Vaughn said. "I just don't know if I can do that."

The shelter is currently home to more than 250 dogs. He said it is a problem that spiked following a local hoarding case WYMT shared earlier this year, and now, Vaughn said they are calling on the community to help.

"They deserve better than this. These living conditions they're not ideal, but they're alive right now," he said. "Help us keep them that way. Get them out. Get them into a family. Take them to a farm. You know do something and lets just try to keep them alive."

As the shelter staff is searching for a solution, they have found rescues are becoming harder to come by. Vaughn said the need for tougher legislation needs to be a priority to give dogs and cats in the shelter a hope for a better tomorrow.

"We want them all to have homes," he said. "That is what we want. We need people to get more active and voice your opinions about saving these animals, and then do something to save these animals."

Vaughn said he learned during a meeting with the ASPCA on Tuesday this is a problem bigger than the Kentucky River Region. He said they have reported shelter overcrowding is a problem nationwide. This is part of the reason out-of-state rescues are becoming harder to obtain.

This is why Vaughn said the shelter is now asking for people in the Kentucky River Region to step up and help the animals in their own backyard.

"Love your own animals. Save one of ours," he said. "Make them part of your family, part of your pack. They deserve that."

April 30 is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.

Wednesday, May 1, the Kentucky River Regional Animal Shelter is scheduled to host another free adoption day in an effort to help the community help the animals. The shelter will be open from 2 p.M. Until 5 p.M. For adoption.

Volunteers are welcome at any time to help walk a dog or play with them. Pedigree dog and cat food is also a frequently needed and requested form of donation.

The shelter is located at 194 Animal Shelter Ln, Hazard, KY 41701.

St. Pete Animal Rescue Working To Give Animals 2nd Chance On 'Adopt A Shelter Pet Day'

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Tuesday, April 30th, marks 'National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day,' and it comes with a grim statistic.

Florida ranks fourth in the nation for euthanasia deaths in animal shelters.

But FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez recently got an inside look at what PetPal Animal Shelter in St. Pete is doing to change that. They are a private rescue organization whose main mission is to get dogs and cats out of high-kill shelters across the Bay Area and beyond before it's too late.

READ: Tampa Bay area pet shelters ask to donate locally on 'Adopt a Shelter Pet' Day

She recently joined PetPal transport volunteer Lara Warn, on a journey to pick up ten animals from Desoto Animal Services in Arcadia.

"Hello, everybody. Welcome aboard. My name is Lara, and I'll be your Uber driver today. You're on your way to PetPal animal shelter, you're now safe and sound," Warn said to calm the nerves of the ten animals sitting in the back of the transport van. It was a five-star ride to a brand-new life for them.

Lara Warn with animals

Each one with a harrowing story of how they ended up at DeSoto County Animal Shelter.

"From what we know, there was a house fire in DeSoto County, and the owner of the property died in the fire, so animal services was called in to pull all of the animals that were on property," Warn added. "We have two adult dogs and three puppies on board, along with five cats."

Lara is the creator of a dog-inspired apparel company called 'Pup Active,' and a huge animal advocate in Pinellas County.

It's why she was inspired to join the team of hardworking volunteers at PetPal.

They send Lara on this three-hour round-trip journey about once a week.

"Municipal shelters like DeSoto County Animal Services take in strays and owner-surrenders, and if they're not able to get these animals out to either, an adoption by somebody in the community or get them out to a private rescue like PetPal, then odds are the animals will never make it out of that shelter, and they'll be euthanized for space and due to lack of resources," explained Warn.

It's a stigma not many understand; overcrowded shelters, like DeSoto County, do not want to euthanize.

But they've continued to see an influx of owner surrenders, strays, and animal cruelty cases after the pandemic, and after Arcadia, specifically, saw extreme damage from two major hurricanes in the last two years.

"They're smaller and out in the rural areas," added Karri Head, Marketing Director for PetPal. "They don't have a lot of room. They pick up a lot of strays, they have a lot of abandoned animals, and because they're out in the country, a lot of the animals are outside so they come in with skin issues, they come in heartworm positive, they have injuries, things that the shelter can't afford to take care of."

To give these animals a second chance elsewhere, Desoto's shelter director, Susan Brodowsky, has worked to establish relationships with almost 90 private rescues like PetPal.

"She told us about a stat from last year where they brought in 1600 dogs and 900 were transported out to private rescues," Warn said. "That happened because of the partnerships that she created."

The PetPal staff greet them with open arms every single time, nursing them back to health before watching them get adopted into a forever home.

Crying happy tears as they walk out the door with a new family is something Head never gets tired of.

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I've been lucky enough to see every little bit of the process, and every part of it is just amazing to be involved in," Head said. "The animals are grateful. They know they've been saved. "

They know they have a voice when they can't speak up for themselves.

"I feel like humans are always going to let down animals in some capacity," Warn added. "We can't save them all. But the ones that we save, we can certainly do our best to give them the best chance we can."

To donate, inquire about an adoptable animal, or learn more about how you can volunteer with PetPal, click here.

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Detroit Animal Shelter Looking To Get Dogs Adopted Ahead Of Move

If you're looking for a new furry friend to join your family, Detroit volunteers have plenty of dogs waiting for their forever home.

Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control are looking to get dogs adopted ahead of the Detroit Animal Care and Control shelter's upcoming move.

"We would love to place all the adoptable animals in loving homes or with reputable transfer partners who will help them on their next step to finding that amazing home," said Rachael Prenkert, president of Friends of Detroit Animal Care and Control. "If you've been thinking about getting a dog, or have room in your life to foster one, now's the time."

The shelter has over 45 dogs up for adoption. All dogs are spayed and neutered, microchipped, and fully vaccinated. To adopt a dog, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid ID, and apply and complete an adoption interview process.

A picture of Sushi Serenity, one of the dogs available for adoption from the Detroit Animal Care and Control shelter.

The shelter will soon move to 1431 East Ferry St. In Detroit, said Detroit Media Relations Director John Roach. A date for the new shelter's opening remains unconfirmed.

Volunteers will host a variety of events in May to promote their adoption efforts.

There will be the Bissell Pet Foundation empty the shelters free adoption event Wednesday through May 15, with Cathy Bissell sponsoring adoption fees.

The furry Thursday late-night adoption event will be held Thursday at the shelter, with the shelter open until 8 p.M.

There will be an adopt-a-dog event at the Detroit Public Library on May 19 from noon to 3 p.M. On the lawn of the library's Main Branch. The first 50 attendees will get a free digital pet keychain game and the first six to adopt or foster a dog will get a free luxury dog bed.

Along with adopting a dog, you will receive a goodie bag of toys, treats, food, a month's worth of flea, tick, and heartworm preventative, and more. Fostering a dog is free, though the shelter recommends a $100 fee for adoption.

The current Detroit Animal Care and Control shelter is located at 7401 Chrysler Drive in Detroit and is open from 10:30 a.M. To 3 p.M. Daily.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Volunteers look to pair dogs with homes at Detroit shelter

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