Stray dogs in need of new homes
News
Posted By Barbara Simpson — Delhi News-Record
Posted 1 month ago
ST. WILLIAMS — A purple-tongued German shepherd and Labrador mix with a touch of chow, a terrier mix, and even a schnauzer.
These aren't the dogs available at the local pet shop. Rather they are the stray dogs that are currently housed in Norfolk County's so-called pound. Similar to pet shop finds, some of these dogs are also in need of a permanent home.
Adopting out these dogs has become more of a burden for the Norfolk County Animal Control Services. While the shelter has always facilitated adoptions, it has also relied on taking unclaimed dogs regularly to the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. Now faced with its own overpopulation, the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA has issued a moratorium on accepting pets from communities outside its jurisdiction.
"In no any way, shape or form, we're not picking on anyone," said Keith Scott, president and CEO of the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA. "We're picking on everyone as it may be."
The Hamilton-based shelter has been at capacity for the last three months. It is now focusing its efforts on simply serving communities within its jurisdiction.
This places Norfolk County Animal Control Services in a bind. The service, contracted out to St. Williams' Maple Oak Kennels, will now have to put more of its energies on adopting out unclaimed dogs. It used to take between five to seven dogs to the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA on a regular basis.
"We're on our own adopting out animals," said Margaret Jess, who operates the local animal control shelter with her husband Bill.
While some dogs are able to go to breed specific rescue operations, they must be purebred dogs. Most stray dogs, however, are mixed breeds.
This doesn't necessarily mean these dogs would make poor companions, Jess pointed out. This misconception that animal control only houses dangerous stray dogs is simply untrue.
While the county only pays for a three-day stay, the Jess family strives to keep well-behaved stray dogs until they are either reunited with their owners or adopted to a new family. Jess spends hours scouring their database to reunite dogs with their families.
"We try to find the owners in those three days," she added. "It's a lot of work."
Currently, the Norfolk County Animal Control shelter is at its capacity with 20 dogs. Some of these dogs are unable to be adopted, but others are looking for a new home.
"Summer is the busiest time," she said. "Usually the first of the month or the 15th of the month (is also busy) because people are moving out (of their homes)."
The public is encouraged to visit norfolkanimalcontrol.ca to view dogs available for adoption. Public service advertisements featuring the dogs for adoption have also been running regularly in the Simcoe Reformer.
Barbara Simpson
519-426-3528, ext. 112
bsimpson@bowesnet.com
