Springfield animal shelter takes in dogs from South Carolina

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Dakin Humane Society in Springfield welcomes five dogs from an animal shelter in South Carolina due to overcrowding.

On Thursday, the dogs started their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine period after arriving from the Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) in South Carolina. Since January 2021, the shelter and rescue populations have risen by 900,000 according to Shelter Animals Count , an animal advocacy group.

To avoid euthanizing animals, shelters across the U.S. partner with each other to help relocate them to find adopters, foster homes, and donors.

There are currently 9 dogs ready for adoption at Dakin . The five dogs from South Carolina include four eight-month-old siblings and a two-year-old female hound. They are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

“We are fortunate to be able to help FOTAS by bringing these dogs here to western Massachusetts,” stated Meg Talbert, executive director at Dakin.  “Shelters around the country are experiencing overcrowding due to slowed adoption rates and increasing animal intake.  It’s because of our wonderful community of adopters, foster homes and donors that Dakin can step up and help.”

Talbert continued, “These five young dogs will make great additions to families in our community.  We encourage people who are interested in adopting a dog now or in the coming months to look at our website frequently, or visit Dakin during our open hours to find a good match.  When you adopt a pet from a shelter, you’re helping two animals, the one joining your family, and the one who will then be able to enter our shelter to await their new person or family.”

“We live in a large county, roughly the size of Rhode Island,” stated Kathy Cagle, programs coordinator at FOTAS.  “So many people are kind and good, they take in strays and do what they can. However their ability to get their pets spayed and neutered, and receive proper veterinary care, is limited.  Some days there are lines to the parking lot with people who found dogs and cats on the road. We see people leaving dogs at gas stations, tying them to our fence, or leaving them with bags of food on the road.  These are pets that come to us through no fault of their own. You are getting homes for our neglected and unwanted.”

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