08/04/2026
When will it end?
We're going to step up on our soapbox for a moment, because this is important.
Every day when scrolling through Facebook, we see dozens of "rehoming" or "free to good home" posts about puppies and dogs throughout the state.
(Not even counting the dozens more about cats and kittens.)
So again, when will it end?
We'll be honest with you. We've seen some pretty horrific stuff. Starvation. Injured animals. Diseased animals. Severe neglect and abuse. Animals near death.
Even animals in such horrific condition that death is a mercy.
Letting your dog or cat contribute to the pet population crisis isn't harmless.
Its not harmless when dogs can have 2 litters per year starting at 6 months, and averaging 6-8 puppies per litter.
Its not harmless when cats can have a few litters per year starting at 4 months, and averaging 4-6 kittens per litter.
For an unaltered cat or dog, that's dozens and dozens of babies throughout their lifetime.
And where do they go?
"Good homes" are harder and harder to find. Rescues are full. Shelters are full.
In some parts of the state, unwanted animals roam free and are left to fend for themselves. There's little to no resources.They starve. They freeze. They get hit by cars. They get poisoned. They get shot. They suffer.
Then there's the animals that find themselves in subpar homes, only to be let down by their people time and time again.
When you're allowing your pet to have litter after litter, you can't guarantee those animals will live long, happy, and healthy lives. You may be unintentionally condemning them to a long life of misery and neglect.
Every animal we have rescued from a life of horrific misery was once a cute puppy or kitten that someone had and then rehomed. Are you confident that none of the puppies or kittens from your dogs or cats haven't been neglected (or worse?)
These animals deserve better! Together we can make a difference.
👉🏻Spay and neuter. As soon as you get a puppy or kitten, schedule their surgery. Most low cost spay and nueter clinics schedule out several months in advance. Scheduling in advance ensures your pet is altered when they're old enough, and no "accidents" happen!
Encourage your friends and family to spay and neuter their pets!
There are several low-cost clinics local to us:
🐾Spay Today
🐾Promise Animal League
🐾Stepping Stone Animal Society
🐾Fifty Shades of Fur
🐾Pet Neuter Clinic
🐾Rescue Me WV (sometimes has grants to help)
🐾Berkeley County Humane Society (sometimes has grants to help)
🐾Morgan County Humane Society (sometimes has grants to help)
👉🏻 If you're able to foster, please reach out to local rescues to help! If you can't foster, volunteer at your local shelter or rescue! They need all the help they can get! The two main issues we hear from local shelters and rescues are; lack of foster homes and lack of funding! By fostering YOU can save a life!
👉🏻 Donate! Donate toward the animal's care, donate supplies, donate toward vetrinary costs (which aren't inexpensive). Rescues and shelters facing lack of funding cannot help animals they financially cannot care for.
👉🏻 If you can't foster or donate, there are SUPER simple and FREE ways to help! Interact with posts on social media from shelters and rescues. You can help spread the word! The more interactions we get on social media = more eyes see the animals in need = the animals get the help they deserve!
YOU can help make a difference today! ❤️🐾
