Animal Rescue Center is bridge to adoption
Dogs are given a second chance thanks to the efforts of the staff of the Animal Rescue Center operated by Brandywine Valley SPCA near Georgetown. The former home to the Safe Haven rescue center off Shingle Point Road was purchased by Brandywine Valley and opened in January 2019.
“The center is a lifeline for dogs to get a new home. It's dedicated to rescue,” said Sara Smith, director of communications. “We are a bridge for animals ready for adoption.”
The center is a private facility that focuses on rescue and rehabilitation for dogs needing extra support to reach adoption, including cruelty survivors, disaster victims, newborns and those at risk of euthanasia at other shelters. Pets requiring medical quarantines or behavior programs are also housed at the center. A dedicated staff, including trainers and veterinarians, is complemented by a network of volunteers who work at the center and receive training to foster dogs in need of special attention.
The center also takes in stray dogs from Office of Animal Welfare officers.
Smith said the center uses a variety of methods to find owners or adopt the dogs, including a lost-and-found website, tracking down microchip data and social media pages. “There are a lot of reclaims throughout the year. They happen daily,” she said.
A no-kill state
Delaware is the first no-kill state in the country with a 95% release rate, one of the highest in the nation.
Because of Brandywine's success, the rescue center has become a clearinghouse for dogs rescued during natural disasters. “We have the space and we can handle large intakes,” Smith said.
As many as 7,000 pets per year are rescued from disaster zones.
Dogs arrive by truck and even airplane following natural disasters, which have included Hurricanes Florence, Michael, Laura and Ida, and tornadoes in Mississippi and Kentucky. In some instances, a Brandywine Valley crew is sent directly to disaster sites to assist with rescues.
The center also receives dogs on a regular basis from a high-intake shelter in Tangipahoa Parish near New Orleans, La., which had a low release rate of only 22%. “Many dogs are at risk for euthanasia, and we are saving their lives,” Smith said. That rate rose to 90% in just a year.
“We are helping animal welfare across the country,” she said, adding the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals sends dogs to the center when they need a location for large intakes.
In 2022, Brandywine Valley received 17,497 animals and found homes for 16,118. Half of the animals at the shelters are lost or strays.
Through a state contract, Brandywine Valley SPCA provides all animal control and rescue services throughout Delaware and southern Pennsylvania.
Cruelty cases
A staff of caring dog trainers works to make sure dogs are ready for adoption, but some can be a challenge, especially those rescued from cruelty situations.
Recently, the center was responsible for dogs rescued from a fighting arena near Seaford where five men were arrested Jan. 8 by Delaware State Police and Office of Animal Welfare officers, and charged with a variety of crimes. Fifteen dogs were rescued, and three died from injuries or illnesses.
Only two of the dogs remain at the center today; they are almost ready to be put up for adoption, Smith said.
Recently, 56 cats were rescued from deplorable conditions in a Middletown home. Brandywine has also rescued dogs from Korean dog meat farms.
Smith said dogs that are injured with wounds must be quarantined for up to four months away from other animals. The center has spacious kennels for all of its dogs. They are treated by center staff and some can be released to foster care.
Smith said not every dog can be saved, and 5% of the animals taken in pass away due to age, disease and even long-term neglect.
“We can't save every single dog, but we will continue to try,” she said.
The complex is also home to the Eastern Shore Pet Resort, which offers daycare and boarding for dogs. “This is privately run and helps to fund the work we do,” Smith said.
A state contract
Sussex County paid $853,422 to the Office of Animal Control for services during fiscal year 2022. The fee will increase to $870,491 for fiscal year 2023 based on population growth in the county.
The state took over animal control in 2016. The Delaware Office of Animal Control was initially awarded a three-year, $6.5 million contract to provide shelter services throughout the state.
The Office of Animal Welfare contracts with Brandywine Valley SPCA for shelter services, provides training and certification for officers, provides care for pets brought to Red Cross shelters during emergencies, administers a lost-and-found pet registry for residents, provides conflict resolution, interacts with constituents, and spearheads legislative initiatives.
The unit responds to calls regarding stray and aggressive dogs, and manages dangerous dogs. It also responds to calls about animal cruelty and fighting, human exposure to rabies, seriously injured or endangered cats, and dog care violations, in addition to assisting other agencies.
A team of 23 officers and seven dispatchers serves Sussex County seven days per week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends. Emergency service is available 24 hours per day.
About the SPCA
Brandywine Valley SPCA has shelters along Route 113 south of Georgetown, and in Dover and New Castle. It also has shelters in Plymouth Meeting and West Chester, Pa. The SPCA offers a wide variety of services including low-cost veterinarian clinics, spay and neuter clinics, medical grants, pet food pantries and free behavior counseling.
The Georgetown campus is open to the public for adoptions and other pet services. The shelter also participates in adoption events throughout the year.
Go to bvspca.org for more information.
