From the Humane Society of Harford County:
The many furry faces kenneled at The Humane Society of Harford County (HSHC) all plead for the public to help them find placement with a rescue organization or into a loving, permanent home. All 21 kennels at the shelter are full, some with up to four dogs sharing a common space together. Additionally, the holding area for sick and stray dogs is full, and there are no spaces left for incoming dogs.
“If you’ve been thinking of adding a furry friend to your family, now is the time,” says executive director Jen Swanson. “We’re also extending an open invitation to all area rescue groups to come and take anything they want, including cats and kittens.”
HSHC is open from 11am until 6pm weekdays, 10am-5pm on Saturdays and 12-4pm on Sundays. View the animals’ photos and biographies at www.harfordshelter.org. Interested adopters can fill out an adoption application online and bring it to HSHC to get approved. As part of the adoption process, families should be prepared to bring their resident dog(s) for a “meet and greet” if they are considering adopting another dog. Rescues must have a copy of their federal 501c3 certificate.
HSHC’s adoption fee includes a rabies vaccination (if the animal is at least 4 months old), the first set of distemper shots, de-wormer, flea & tick preventative, feline leukemia and feline AIDS testing, a canine influenza shot, a microchip for identification purposes, and a general health exam. There is an additional $50 deposit for a HASP (Harford Animal Sterilization Program) certificate so the animal can be spayed or neutered. That fee is refunded upon completion of the procedure within 60 days.
I have been very sad to see two of Harford humane’s most dedicated employees be forced out at a time when their dreams of a new shelter is almost complete. One thing about Mary and Blaine were that they were dedicated to the animals they served and did their very best to see that they were cared for and adopted. The people responsible for their departures should be ashamed. There can not be a good outcome from these actions. You will never find a replacement for these two and I am afraid that we have seen the beginning of the end of the good works done by the Harford Humane
society.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.. I get that you are angry..But to say that we have seen the beginning of the end of the good works done by the Humane Society is a bit harsh.. Many years ago I worked there we had some really good staff that was forced out.. Truly dedicated to the animals..sure the rest of us were really upset how it was done.. But to make a statement like that could taint people’s views of the shelter.. Drive them away from the humane society.. They are at capacity and the animals don’t stop coming in.. If you are that upset go to the board..voice your frustrations.. There are a lot of dedicated employees still there and dedicated volunteers.. I for one surely hope whoever replaces them is as good or better.. Why because that benefits the animals
Perhaps some of the problem is their almost impossible adoption process. Paperwork completed, references, Vet info provided, etc etc etc —- I think it takes longer to adopt a pet from here than it does to get a background investigation. Either they need more people on the administrative/office staff of things, or they need to revise their requirements. You cant cry we are at capacity please help, while making it near impossible to adopt an animal.
And the “rescues” grab all the puppies and younger dogs to “rehome” them for $500+ “donations,” leaving the humane society with the older dogs no one wants. They might as well just drop the puppies off at the pet store, at least then everyone would know upfront they’re a customer.
Really? Have you ever adopted from a smaller rescue? Multiple references, home visits before you can even get the dog. Our prices and process are way easier than most. Think about the process you go through buying a car…. We’re talking about a life here, it shouldn’t be quick and haphazard !
Good dedicated people will always be replaceable whether it’s a board decision or a new executive director wanting to staff their own people. It’s unfortunate for those being replaced and the even more unfortunate for the animals when those decisions are made without the priority placed where it sound be, on the welfare of the animals. The BOD’s goal objective is to keep the HSHC financially sound.
Mary and Blaine may have been well-meaning, and both seemed likable, but the truth is neither had the skills or motivation to properly run an animal shelter. Blaine is an excellent PR man, but it became painfully obvious to me (a former worker), that what he presented to the public vs what he actually did behind the scenes were two different things. It saddened me to see how the animals (and often times the staff) were treated as if we were a “pound” from the 1960’s. Good luck to Mary and Blaine in their future endeavors, but KUDOS to whoever FINALLY had the sense to replace them- the animals and the citizens of Harford County deserve better.
a lot cheaper to put a needle to the paw isn’t it?
I won’t ever blame shelter management or staff for problems at the shelter, overcrowding or any other issue for that matter. The fault of problems at a shelter lie squarely on the shoulders of the irresponsible, generally dumb humans that think pit bulls don’t need to be fixed or that it’s OK to throw the cat out wherever, whenever…those two groups alone if eliminated from the picture would reduce the shelter population to 10% of what it is now. Catters and Pitters are the worst form of pet owners. It doesn’t even matter where you are in the country it’s the same darned morons who cause 90% of the problem. Cats ought to be licensed in the same way dogs are in this county. That wouldn’t solve the problem but it would be a step in the right direction.
One way to keep animals out of the shelter is to prevent them from being born in the first place. I’m all for spay and neuter, but rumor is the new executive director Jen wants all pregnant dog and cats that are brought in to have their pregnancies termanated. Is it just me or is this sick? I hope a reporter calls to find out if this is true.