Local animal shelters take in Texas dogs
Two Sussex County animal shelters are taking in dogs displaced by the storms and power outages in Texas.
Brandywine Valley SPCA in Georgetown received 89 dogs March 1 from Palm Valley Animal Shelter in the Rio Grande Valley, which sustained damage to its two adoption centers from failed electricity and frozen pipes. Brandywine Valley has taken in 266 cats and dogs from Texas shelters since the winter storms began Feb. 16.
“Our animal rescue center was opened specifically for emergency needs like this,” said Adam Lamb, Brandywine Valley SPCA CEO. “We’re looking forward to putting it to use to help finish the hard work of the folks in Palm Valley to save these animals by finding them homes here in our area.”
Palm Valley shelter Executive Director Donna Casamento said, "Our shelters are overcrowded with anywhere from 30 to 100 animals coming in daily. Intake will be increasing because the county has just reduced COVID restrictions again. Help like this is so important to our ability to sustain our no-kill status."
The dogs were transported to Brandywine’s animal rescue center where they will be evaluated and given medical treatment before going up for adoption across Brandywine’s Delaware shelters.
Brandywine officials say of the 125 Texas intakes from the weekend of Feb. 20, 113 have found homes. On Feb. 28, Brandywine received 52 more dogs and cats from three other Texas shelters.
“We see it as our responsibility to help other communities during a time of crisis,” Lamb said. “And we’ve been so moved by the outpouring from our community to join us in this important work by adopting and supporting our efforts.”
Delaware Humane Association centers in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach have also been taking in animals from Texas, as well as Georgia and Virginia where there was also severe weather in February.
From Georgia, the humane association received a large transport of cats and a young mother nursing a litter of puppies that were at a high-intake shelter and at risk of euthanasia.
The association also took in dogs and cats from Texas in association with St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Rescue Center in New Jersey.
Courtney Anderson, director of animal welfare with Delaware Humane Association, said, “While we are very connected to the animals in our community and the work we do here, we are very aware of the greater need to help save lives through transporting these animals from shelters in need. These shelter partnerships are critical in helping us transport and receive animals in need.”
For more information on adopting an animal from Brandywine Valley SPCA or Delaware Humane Association, visit bvspca.org or delawarehumane.org.
