Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is turning to the community for help after a collaborative rescue with Pierce County Animal Control in Roy brought 60 animals to the shelter.
After a complaint in November regarding possible illegal breeding and animal cruelty at a residence in Roy, a total of 60 dogs and cats, along with one horse, were removed from the property by Pierce County Animal Control officers on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Following the removal of the animals, the 60 dogs and cats were brought to the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, 2608 Center St. in Tacoma, and welcomed by staff at the shelter, according to Lauren Green, director of marketing and communications.
Though Green could not comment on the physical state of the animals due to an ongoing investigation, she stated that, after the rescue in Roy, the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County currently serves 264 dogs in the shelter and at foster homes.
“The shelter is operating well over capacity with dogs right now. Just last week, following the intake of those animals from that case, we’ve reached a record high of the number of dogs that we’re managing at once,” Green said. “We’re really turning to our community right now for support.”
Green said the community can support the shelter by adopting or fostering the dogs currently housed there. She said if people interested in fostering a dog can’t do it for a long period of time, they can foster the animals for a few days.
“Opening your heart and home for an animal in need helps create life-changing space for us here at the shelter so that we can continue to serve as our community’s pet resource center for animals that turn to us as a lifeline and for our animal control agency we’re working with for this confiscation case,” Green said.
The easiest way to begin the process of adoption or fostering is through the organization’s website at www.TheHumaneSociety.org, Green said. Potential adopters can look at all of the dogs, cats and critters available for adoption or fostering on the website.
“We also welcome folks to come down to our shelter during our open hours,” Green said. “Our team is happy to help you find the perfect addition to your family. What better way to start your new year than with a new pet?”
The Tacoma-based shelter is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, but the adoption center is closed Mondays, if a potential adopter or foster is interested in visiting the location. If someone isn’t suited to adopt or foster, Green said people can still get involved in other ways.
“For folks who aren’t in a position to adopt or foster, we’re looking to our community to play an active role in animal welfare. What that could look like is helping keep animals from entering the shelter in the first place,” Green said. “For example, with lost and found pets, for a healthy pet, they typically don’t wander far from home. I think a lot of folks’ first instinct is they find a lost pet and bring it to their local shelter. Bringing them to a shelter could decrease its chances of reuniting with its family because they don’t wander far from home.
“We’re happy to help support owner re-unification efforts, whether that’s new supplies, food, water dishes, food dishes, crates — anything we can provide to help you help this animal reunite it with its families and keep them out of shelters is a tremendous help to us and our community at large,” she continued.
Green said rising numbers in animal shelters has been a “huge talking point” for the Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County and surrounding organizations. She said the majority of shelters are working through capacity challenges.
“The rising costs of living certainly doesn’t help for folks that are faced with a difficult decision of providing for themselves and providing for their pets,” Green said. “That’s a huge reason we’ve really looked to be our community’s pet resource center. We’re providing resources to help people keep pets, whether they’re owned pets or lost and found pets, from entering the shelter.”
