Animal shelters throughout Northern Virginia are expressing an urgent need for assistance in the form of adoptions, foster placements, and monetary donations. The shelters are faced with overcrowding and a surge in canine upper respiratory infections that are putting a strain on their resources.
Critical Overcrowding
The Stafford Animal Shelter posted a call to community members to Facebook on Thursday, describing a critical need for adoptions and emphasizing that it is not a no-kill shelter.
“We do not work here with the intention of euthanizing animals; rather, our goal for every animal in our care is to find it a loving forever home,” the post said, explaining that it has not had to euthanize an animal for space since moving to its current location in 2018, but that there are currently 50 dogs under the shelter’s care. Thirty-eight of those dogs are available for adoption.
“This is more than just a call for assistance; it is a plea from the depths of our hearts. We need your help now more than ever before. Lives are at stake, and every action taken can make a difference,” the post said.
The post also said that the shelter will not accept surrenders, except in emergencies, and it urged anyone considering an animal to “explore all available alternatives before bringing them to us.”
Upper Respiratory Infections
An uptick in upper respiratory infections in dogs in Alexandria and Fairfax shelters is also impacting operations.
Upper respiratory infections are a common ailment, particularly in environments like shelters where several animals are held in close quarters, as they are highly contagious. Symptoms include a cough, runny eyes, nasal discharge, wheezing, and lack of appetite.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria explained that there is a higher-than-usual number of dogs with infections and noted that all affected dogs are being treated. The shelter said that it is seeking families who do not currently have pets to adopt or foster dogs.
“We know the best place for them to recover is in the comfort of a stress-free home environment,” the shelter said in a blog post. Dogs with symptoms will be sent home with medication and are expected to recover in seven to 10 days.
The Fairfax County Animal Shelter posted a similar notice that the shelter was experiencing a high volume of upper respiratory infections, though it said that some adoptable dogs are temporarily unavailable while they receive treatment.
Still, there are some ways that you can help “as fewer pets in the shelter overall allow our staff to devote more time and attention to dogs undergoing medical care,” the shelter said. Those who need to surrender animals should wait at least two weeks and ensure that the animal is fully up to date on its vaccinations.
Financial donations are another way to support any shelter in need.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
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