Humane society seeking community support

The Humane Society of Young County works to help stray and unwanted animals throughout the county and the nonprofit is currently looking to the community for support after being over capacity.

Director Shelby Brogdon said the shelter’s capacity is 24 dogs and 51 cats and has been operating over that capacity almost consistently since spring. The director said this time of the year is typically be the lowest for numbers and the shelter will be in for a hard time already at capacity.

“We are getting in as many cats for spay and neuter at our clinic as we possibly can, but we need the community to step up,” she said. “If you are feeding cats in your community, you need to be spaying and neutering these cats.”

The shelter is currently housing 36 dogs and 50 cats, with seven dogs and five cats in foster care. The director said adoptions were up just before Christmas and several cats were sent to rescues.

“When a person or family is ready to bring home a new family member, we encourage them to visit our webpage. Under the adoption tab, a potential adopter will find links to our adoption applications – one for dogs and one for cats,” Brogdon said. “There are also photos and descriptions of all the adoptable pets at the shelter.”

Once an application for adoption is submitted and approved, the shelter sets up a meet and greet to see if the adopter and pet are a proper fit. If an application is received during normal business hours, it typically takes one day to approve an application.
The shelter director said the biggest challenge facing the organization is being able to house and care for the number of pets roaming and reproducing in the community. 

“Animal Control has stepped up their efforts to curb the number of roaming pets and are issuing citations,” Brogdon said. “Not only can it be costly for pet owners, but these dogs that are brought to us take up kennel space. If owners don’t reclaim in a timely manner it can mean that dogs have to be put down to create room to hold the strays that come in almost daily.”

Pet owners can help the shelter by being responsible for their pets with spaying, neutering, vaccinating, microchipping and keeping identification and rabies tags on at all times.

The non-profit organization also relies on donations to keep their doors open and always is looking for support for their ongoing expenses for utilities, veterinary bills, medicines and gas for trips to the veterinary or to meet rescues. 

“For those who would like to donate, our webpage has links to our PayPal and Venmo accounts,” Brogdon said. “We also have links to our Amazon and Chewy wish lists. Items purchased through these links can be shipped directly to HSYC.”

Supplies currently requested by the shelter are puppy pads, pill pockets, OdoBan, Simple Green, Febreze, Chews/Nylabones and dry cat food.

Another way the community can support the shelter is through volunteering. To volunteer at the shelter, call 940-549-1692 or message the HSYC Facebook page. 

The shelter is contracted with the cities Graham, Olney and Newcastle as well as Young County to take in animals. 

If an animal is picked up by animal control, HSYC serves as the holding facility until the owner can reclaim their pet and can take ownership of the pet to find a new home or rescue for the animal.