Today, we were given the green light by the state vet to place all the healthy animals in the emergency shelter up for a 'foster to adopt' program. The dogs have been held for their 10-day legal minimum hold period and under normal circumstances, they would be made available for adoption. But no one erects an emergency shelter during normal circumstances. It was agreed that the dogs would be fostered out into the community for 90 days while awaiting their original owners to claim them. If the dog is not claimed during that time period the foster family must have the dog spayed or neutered (paid for by the state) and then they will become the owners of the pup. What does this mean for me? Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Before each dog leaves out we must scan for a microchip (although this was done on intake, it can never be done enough) and photographed (3 pictures,1 from the front and one for each side). That's 900 photographs!
We are still having animals come in from the area affected by the tornado in Vilonia including a gray and white adolescent cat who is being kept in the volunteer sleeping quarters because she is the only cat we have. 'Burrito' the burro returned home today, his family was able to get their fence repaired. A 3 legged border collie mix is being fostered by a family that has a 3 legged goat!
Local government is discussing opening some levies that will flood out some areas near Little Rock to absorb some of the water coming from the north. We will see what tomorrow brings us.
Submitted by: Humane Law Enforcement Officer and Disaster Response Specialist Ann Russell
Recent Comments