The Northumberland Humane Society has made the difficult decision to close all animal surrenders as of Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
Today’s Northumberland spoke with Executive Director Henny Venus on Wednesday about the decision.
“The Shelter is indeed in dire need. We have so many at the moment we just flooded in the last month.”
Out of approximately 150 animals, there are at least 70 cats in foster care with the rest being at the shelter on Theatre Road between Cobourg and Port Hope and a few in satellite locations.
“It just exploded this year.”
Venus calls it an “extreme beginning” because kitten season is just starting.
As of Wednesday, the NHS has 115 cats, but the majority are in foster care. They also have 24 dogs with four in foster care.
“It’s really bursting at the seams and we had to take the drastic decision to stop taking in at the moment because there is no more space we can have animals in.”
Venus said NHS wants to take good care of the animals, “and if you have too many animals you can’t take care of them anymore.”
Venus has spoke to another Humane Society in the Kitchener/Waterloo area who are experiencing the same problem.
The problem may have been complicated by COVID with people getting animals due to isolation, but now as things get back to somewhat normal, there isn’t enough time for their pets.
“In the last month we already took nine (dogs) surrenders in. No judgement, but circumstances they couldn’t take them. People need to go back to work, things are changing in their lives again and then they realize the animal needs a little more time and space then they can give.”
Venus said he hopes the numbers have peaked, but realistically, he knows they haven’t.
“I know out of experience – no. There is way more to come.”
Plans for July will be that all adult cats will be 50% off and NHS are also working on something for dogs.
“But the adoptions are low to at the moment because money is tight.”
“People need to realize if you adopt an animal you not only help and re-home the animal from the shelter, you also make space for a new animal coming in.”
With the amount of animals at NHS, it brings the need for more supplies including financial.
“All those animals all need to be spayed, neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinations need to be done, medical treatment needs to be done because we’ve had a lot of surrenders from people who can’t afford medical treatment.”
“It’s a very, very difficult decision for a Humane Society to say we can’t accept anymore. I hope the general public understands. It’s not that we don’t want too, it’s just there is no space.”
Donations can be made on our website at www.northumberlandhs.com/donate/ or E-Transfer to Bookkeeper@northumberlandhs.com
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Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
