MUSKEGON, Mich. — With dogs coming in as fast as they’re going out of the shelter, those with Pound Buddies are asking for help.
“Really we're unprecedented in the number of dogs that we have right now,” said Pound Buddies board president Jan Jacobs. “As a matter of fact, we have had to reduce their population of kitties because we are so overwhelmed with dogs.”
The shelter’s capacity is normally around 100 dogs. On Christmas Eve, Jacobs said they were around 150.
“That's really challenging us in many ways — our resources, our staffing, the dog's well being,” she said. “When we have this many dogs, it creates a more stressful situation for the dogs that are here.”
Jacobs believes the sudden overcrowding is for a number of reasons that all tie to the big financial undertaking of properly caring for an animal can require. For those who feel like they’re struggling themselves — she stresses that there are resources available.
For those who want to help, Jacobs said adopting isn’t enough.
“We can't adopt our way out of this situation,” she said. “There's just not enough adoptions going on to be able to help us with this crisis capacity.”
Instead, she’s asking for donations. They are welcoming items like dog and puppy food, milk bones, paper towels and Dawn soap with open arms, but monetary donations help the most.
“We have a new fund called the Founders Fund that specifically targets emergency and urgent care for dogs,” she said. “And puppy and dog food is huge. We go through an awful lot with 150 dogs, you can imagine what we go through every week with, with feeding, you know?”
That’s not to say those interested in adopting a pet shouldn’t consider doing so. Pound Buddies is still making sure each animal ends up going to a good home. For those who are set on bringing a furry friend to their home — Jacobs stresses is to adopt and not shop.
“We have every single dog here at the shelter,” she said. “You can see from puppies to seniors — every breed you can imagine. So please don't shop for a dog and please get your dog spayed and neutered.”
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