The Humane Society of the United States transported 33 dogs from Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society and St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter to their offices in Gaithersburg, Md., where they were picked up by local animal shelters and rescue groups to be placed for adoption. Plaquemines Animal Welfare Society and St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter have been inundated with owner surrendered animals in the past few months, with numbers spiking dramatically since the Gulf oil spill. Three of the dogs transported by The HSUS were owned by a fisherman who could no longer take care of his dogs due to the economic impact of the oil spill.
These dogs will be available for adoption through the following organizations: Loudon County Animal Shelter, Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation and the SPCA of Anne Arundel County.
“It seems that many pet owners who have been economically affected by the recent Gulf oil spill are now unable to care for their pets; leaving Gulf Coast shelters overwhelmed. The Humane Society of the United States is proud to be able to provide assistance to the shelters and animals in need of help,” said Betsy McFarland, senior director of Companion Animals for The HSUS. “These highly adoptable dogs are a great illustration of what you will find in shelters; from purebred dogs to scruffy mixes, shelters have all kinds of wonderful animals looking for forever homes. They’re simply down on their luck and looking for a second chance.”
Earlier this month, in an effort to help financially affected families keep their pets, The Humane Society of the United States coordinated the donation of 12 tons of dog and cat food from Mars Petcare U.S. and one-third ton of dog food from The Humane Choice Company, the maker of The HSUS’ dog food. The food was delivered to a distribution site, centrally located in Plaquemines Parish, where it was distributed directly to residents in coastal areas affected by the oil spill. While many took advantage of the help, some still felt they could not keep their pets.
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