LAWRENCE, Kan. – Severe weather damage chased dozens of four-legged refugees into a metro dog shelter. So many showed up at the Lawrence Humane Society, it needs help.
Already running out of space, the Lawrence Humane Society took in 22 more dogs. They are refugees from Hutchinson, Kansas where severe weather blew the roof of their Humane Society’s building.
“We’ll do anything we can to make room for these animals,” said Kayce Aschenbrenner, operations director for the shelter.
So, the Kansas Animal Heath Department shipped the pets to Lawrence.
“We are stacked to the brim right now with dogs,” Aschenbrenner said.
Every cage is full. Even a small room reserved for handheld pets was cleared out to make room for small dogs in collapsible cages.
Why is it so crowded?
“One of the main reasons is the economy,” Aschenbrenner said. She said adoptions are down and animal abuse is up.
Last week, the shelter took in 18 Pekingese dogs that were rescued from a puppy mill.
“If the shelters and rescues don’t reach out to help these animals, they have no where to go,” Aschenbrenner said.
Still, 800 to 900 pets remain at the shelter needed adoptions. Julie Anderson applied to take one home.
“Because there are a lot of pets that need a home and a family that will love them,” Anderson said.
Aschenbrenner hopes more people step up.
“We’re hoping these pets get adopted really quickly and move on to their new lives and new homes,” Aschenbrenner said.
If you are interested in adopting one of the refugee dogs or any other pet from the Lawrence Humane Society,
visit their website.
