Extra Special Pets & Animals
Jul 23, 2009 7:03 pm US/Central
Twin Cities Animal Shelter Helps Rescue Wis. Dogs
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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The Animal Humane Society rescued about 30 dogs from two Wisconsin shelters because that group is seeing a need for dogs.
CBS
More and more people are giving up their pets, because they just can't afford them.
On Thursday morning, a veterinarian and another worker with the Animal Humane Society in the Twin Cities went on a pet rescue trip. They went to two animal shelters in Wisconsin to pick up some dogs and bring them back to the Twin Cities.
As Julie Steller, a veterinarian with the Animal Humane Society, packed a van Thursday morning with kennels and some medical supplies for the trip to Wisconsin, she explained her role on the trip.
"My responsibility over there is to do an exam on these animals, make sure they're relatively healthy," said Steller, adding that she didn't expect any of the animals to be malnourished, dehydrated or sick.
"It's just dogs that need help finding proper homes, and we can provide that service, because we have a demand for dogs," Steller said.
If the dogs didn't come to the Twin Cites, they'd possibly face euthanasia back in Wisconsin because of the number of animals at the shelters in Wisconsin. The two shelters are truly overwhelmed with the sad reality of what this economy is doing to thousands of pets, especially dogs and cats.
"People are losing their jobs. They're being foreclosed on. People are having to move into apartments from their homes. They're not able to take their animals with them, so our surrenders are up, plus our stray-rate for animals that are just being dropped off and having to fend for themselves is skyrocketing," said Lee Lewis who runs the Barron County Humane Society in Wisconsin.
This year, that shelter expects to double the amount of animals it takes in, compared to the number it took in last year, which was about 800. So far, they've already sheltered more than 1,000 animals, and expect to take in another 1,000 before the end of the year.
The Rusk County Animal Shelter, also in Wisconsin, has also asked the Animal Humane Society in the Twin Cities for help. If you're interested in adopting one of the rescued dogs, the Animal Humane Society said they should be ready for good homes as early as next week.
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