Since the first of April, the Humane Society has received over 30 calls and messages to re-home animals or pick up feral cats. This is a very real need. There is no place to immediately take animals, so photographs and information must be posted with rescue programs and networks in the panhandle and northern Virginia. Only two, sometimes three board members, have done all of the work. A few have been placed. People are overwhelmed and exhausted. We cannot continue to work like this and must have the community’s help! Until the two teams below are set up and running, the Humane Society will not accept any more calls for animals that need to be re-homed or picked up. We will continue to work on those cases we have committed to until now. In the meantime, those who need animals placed can contact rescue programs in the panhandle and Northern Virginia. Here is how you can help.
Spread the word about the need for these teams.
Rescue and Placement Team We desperately need one or two people who will step forward to recruit and organize volunteers to oversee the placement of cats and dogs.
That will involve:
Taking calls and messages from people who need to re-home or have cats and dogs placed.
Adding HSHC to rescue networks, setting up contacts with shelters, and posting photos and information on those sites.
Arrange for public showings of cats and dogs available for adoption. For example, on a Saturday afternoon, animals would be displayed for three hours at a location in town.
Advertise photos and information of animals for adoption in the Examiner and Press postings as well on the HSHC website and Facebook pages.
Foster Care Recruitment Team Like the first team, one or two leaders are needed to oversee this program. They work closely with the Rescue Team leader(s) coordinating placements in foster homes and adoptive homes.
Promote the need for foster and adoptive homes in the Potomac Valley.
Send out applications to those interested in taking cats and dogs.
Two volunteers are already in place to evaluate applicants. Assign the volunteers to check out the homes.
Recruit volunteers to take food, litter, supplies to foster parents, and to transport animals to veterinarians when needed.
Being a Foster Parent
In most cases, kittens or pups need somewhere safe to stay for a couple of weeks while a placements are found. It may include the mother. More time is needed to place older cats and dogs, so they usually need a longer placement. HSHC will pay for food, litter, and necessary medical expenses. Training will be provided. This is a crucial part of handling the overpopulation of animals in our communities.
Please send an email to hshcwv24@gmail.com if you can lead one of the two teams or have an interest in fostering. Thank you.
