Elderly Dog and Over 22 Cats Dumped at Pennsylvania Shelter's Doorstep
An animal shelter in Dallas, Pennsylvania, has been left caring for a host of animals after they were dumped on the property next to their rescue.
On Tuesday evening, an unidentified individual in a black SUV dumped an elderly dog and over 22 cats on the Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge property. The refuge, already operating at maximum capacity, is now grappling with the sudden influx of additional animals.
This incident sheds light on the broader issue of pet abandonment and the importance of responsible spaying and neutering in the region.
"We are at maximum capacity," Marge Bart from Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge told Newsweek. "We're not accepting cats and people know that. But my neighbor found them and called us."
The perpetrator seemed aware of the shelter's surveillance as the animals were left near cameras. The cages broke open during the dumping, leading to the discovery of an elderly dog among the abandoned cats.
In freezing temperatures, the shelter staff managed to capture the dog and 22 cats, but believe there may be 30 abandoned cats.
The shelter, reliant on donations and volunteers, is pleading for assistance from any no-kill rescues that can lend support in caring for the new arrivals.
"We'll get them all to the vets and make sure they're all doing OK," Bart said, highlighting the immediate need for medical attention and care for the animals.
Each year 6.3 million pets are surrendered to U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet "Shelter Watch Report" found.
Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, the shelter is facing challenges in managing the additional mouths to feed and veterinary expenses, with two cats showing visible medical issues.
The refuge added that it will continue its efforts to capture the remaining cats who were dumped. To accommodate the sudden influx, the shelter has converted some dog rooms into cat quarters, utilizing every available space to provide care.
Believing that all the animals were left by the same person, an investigation is currently underway, but thankfully the abandoned animals, despite their current challenges, appear well. Bart explained that they all appear to have been pets due to their friendly demeanor.
The Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge is now seeking support from the community, urging potential adopters, fosters, and other shelters to come forward and help alleviate the strain on their resources.
The Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge added that it continues to work tirelessly to ensure the well-being and future adoption of the dumped animals.
Uncommon Knowledge
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