By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
It was not only humans who were displaced by Hurricane Harvey near Houston last month. Some four-legged residents of Texas found themselves shipped up to Bowling Green after the hurricane flooded much of the Houston area.
Twenty-four dogs arrived at the Wood County Humane Society in Bowling Green last week. Half have already found homes here.
The dogs came from a shelter in the Houston area – they are not dogs who were separated from their owners by the hurricane.
“As is customary, they emptied out the existing shelter to make room for ones that are found or wandering,” after the storm, said Megann Smith, administrative assistant at the Wood County Humane Society.
“None of these are dogs that people are looking for,” she said. “These guys already needed homes.”
Smith realizes that some may be critical of the local humane society for taking in dogs from across the country. There are plenty of dogs in Wood County to help. “That is true,” she said.
“But we go where animals need help,” Smith said. “Obviously, this is a very special situation.”
The dogs were transported to Ohio by an organization that steps in when crises like the hurricane occur.
Smith acknowledged that the immediate addition of 24 more dogs at the shelter was a challenge.
“We had all hands on deck here,” she said. The shelter relied on some temporary crates and some foster families to take care of the new additions.
“These animals don’t know they’re in Ohio,” she said. Besides, there may come a time when Wood County Humane Society needs help handling pets displaced by a crisis, Smith added. “It’s just about helping the animals.”
The dogs are all mixed breeds, including six puppies that are likely pit bull-Rottweiler mixes. “It helps that they’re cute,” Smith said holding one of the 5-week-old pups.
One of the dogs from Texas was just adopted on Friday. Smith referred to it as a “Heinz 57 – a true mutt.” The new owner decided to name his new dog “Cane,” with Hurricane Harvey in mind.
Two of the dogs are heartworm positive and will require treatment, said April McCurdy, behavior and training coordinator at the Wood County Humane Society. All of the dogs will be seen by the shelter’s veterinarian, receive vaccines and be spayed or neutered before going up for adoption.
The Wood County Humane Society has a mission of providing treatment and care to all animals in the county while trying to find homes for the ones that do not have them. For more information on adopting or volunteering, see: http://www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org.
