Pierce County shelter calls on community for help with record-breaking capacity crisis
PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - The Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County is calling on the public to help with its record-breaking capacity crisis.
The shelter says it is currently caring for 264 dogs, their highest number in seven years.
The crisis is partially fueled by the recent intake of 60 dogs and cats that were rescued from a Pierce County trailer.
Authorities rescue 68 dogs from WA home during animal cruelty investigation
Animal Control officers and sheriff's deputies rescued 68 dogs, many of them 'sick and lethargic,' during an animal cruelty investigation in Pierce County.
The shelter was already caring for 147 dogs before the intake, plus nearly 100 in foster homes.
"While we need adopters and foster volunteers, we need more," says Emily Keegans, Chief Operating Officer at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. "We need the community’s active participation in animal welfare."
The shelter says it's having to repurpose office spaces to house multiple dogs, and temporary kennels are being used when no other kennels are available.
"The number of animals coming in exceeds the number going out into new homes," says Keegans. "This crisis underscores the need for our community to help prevent unnecessary shelter entries, ensuring our limited resources can continue to serve animals in need of immediate medical attention."
via the Humane Society of Tacoma and Pierce County
The community can help the shelter with its capacity crisis by:
- Temporarily caring for lost and found pets - Check for ID tags, post signs in the neighborhood where the pet was found, and use local lost-and-found platforms to help reunite the pet with their family.
- Adopting - The shelter plans to waive adoption fees for dogs one year and older January 2-5.
- Fostering - Foster volunteers can provide a temporary safe space for a dog in need, while the shelter provides supplies and ongoing veterinary care.
"Most lost pets don’t wander far from home," says Keegans. "While many think the shelter is the best option for found animals, bringing them to a shelter can actually hinder their chances of quickly reuniting with the families. Temporarily caring for lost pets near where they were found is often the fastest way to get them back home."
More information can be found on the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County website.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX SEATTLE
Teens charged as adults in stabbing of 14-year-old boy at Everett park
Judge rules accused carjacker competent, denies bail in Seattle dog walker murder case
Family pleads for answers in unsolved Kent murder
Pet food recalled over bird flu contamination, house cat dead
Police: Stowaway arrested after sneaking onto flight from Seattle to Hawaii
WA's underfunded avalanche centers struggle to keep up with growing threats
Man killed in Pullman shooting on Greek Row
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX Seattle FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24