Hurricane Matthew relocates shelter animals
Adopt A Shelter Dog Month provides new opportunities
The month of October is filled with many observances. In addition to being Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it is also Adopt A Shelter Dog Month. And while there is no brightly colored ribbon to wear to signify the occasion, there is no shortage of good deeds going on in Southern Maryland to make sure some lucky pooches find their forever homes.
The Tri-County Animal Shelter in Hughesville recently took in nine shelter dogs from Charleston, S.C., in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.
“The Charleston Animal Society was moving existing animals out to make room for the victims of [the] hurricane,” said Kim Stephens, supervisor for Tri-County. “Charleston reached out to Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society reached out to its [emergency] placement partners.”
Stephens said the shelter had been a placement partner for roughly five years, but this was the first time Tri-County was able to receive animals because the shelter had empty cages. The planning between the agencies began Oct. 5 and, by the next day, the lucky dogs were in Southern Maryland.
“We had Mutt Madness [last] weekend and knew we could [feature] the animals,” added Stephens, about the Human Society of Charles County’s annual event geared toward pets, to include adoptions.
Anna West, public information staffer for the Humane Society of the U.S., confirmed the society took a 50-foot big rig down to South Carolina to retrieve 57 animals. Once the animal transport vehicle arrived in Gaithersburg, humane society headquarters, the dogs were distributed to eight emergency placement partners from New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. In addition to Hughesville, Annapolis and Hagerstown received dogs.
“The Humane Society of the United States has boots on the ground conducting search and rescue missions for animals in South Carolina,” confirmed Samantha Miller, humane society public information officer.
As for the nine dogs that came to Tri-County, three were transferred to the Humane Society of Calvert County.
“Taylor was adopted out on Saturday and went to Annapolis. Taylor is a 4-month-old terrier mix. Teddy will be going home this Saturday for a great family. I believe they live in Waldorf. Teddy is an 8-year-old Pomeranian,” reported Pat Beyer, president of Calvert’s humane society. “I just picked Bella up yesterday. She is a very loving hound mix, still waiting to find her ‘special people.’ She is great with other dogs and a very loving dog. She will be a great family dog.”
Beyer said the local humane society also has 20 other dogs still in need of a home, but is hopeful because in observance of Adopt A Shelter Dog Month, Dickinson Jewelers will host a fundraising event for the shelter where people will be able to meet some of the dogs. In addition, Beyer and staff have teamed up with Prince Frederick Chrysler, which is sponsoring a promotion where the dealership will pick up the tab for a specific dog’s adoption fees. For a list of available animals, go to humanesocietyofcalvertcounty.org.
Through Tri-County, a 6-month-old Plott hound named Fiona was adopted at Mutt Madness over the weekend, and most recently, Smoke, an 8-yearold Labrador retriever, was adopted. However, still in search of their forever homes are Bella, a 2-year-old hound; Smiley, a 2-year-old pit bull/Lab mix; Akela, a 2-year-old pit bull mix; and Gus, a 4-yearold hound mix. According to the shelter, a frightened 4-year-old named Carolina, a Hound mix, is still “looking for a quiet home where she can have a spot to call her own.”
Stephens said the shelter didn’t receive any background information on how or why the dogs originally came to the shelter in Charleston, but was glad Tri-County could help out the dogs and shelter in need.
“We want to be helpful to our sister shelters if they need help and if we have open kennels. Not only does this help our Carolina dogs, but it helps our dogs that are already here,” said Stephens.
The Tri-County Animal Shelter is also promoting Adopt A Shelter Dog Month and encourages prospective adoption candidates to check out all available dogs at www. facebook.com/TriCountyAnimalShelterSoMD. As an added bonus, any dog adopted this month will receive a free toy.