As many of you are aware, animal shelters across the country are currently grappling with a severe overcrowding issue, forcing them to temporarily halt intake of new dogs. Pope Memorial is no exception, as we confront this challenge on a daily basis. Our kennels are full. Our offices are full. Any and all available space is being used so we can take in one more surrender, one more stray, one more animal in need.

At this very moment, we are responsible for the care of 50 dogs and puppies from our surrounding communities, and our waitlist continues to grow by the day. Since this past Sunday (10/22), we have taken in 17 dogs, including a remarkably resilient mother and 9 puppies, all less than a week old. On Wednesday, this sweet girl was urgently surrendered along with her 5 pups in dire need of proper medical attention. This incredible mother had given birth to a dozen puppies just days before, losing more than half of them before they could reach us. Despite the sorrow evident in her eyes, it was clear that she was a fighter, an exceptional mother, and she was determined to do whatever it took to protect and care for her remaining offspring.

Within minutes of settling into our shelter, with a cozy space, food, water, and loads of love, our staff witnessed a transformation in the new mom’s demeanor. She felt safe, and she happily allowed our team to care for her pups, wagging her tail, licking them and proudly showing off her little ones. Though this was a significant victory, it was only the beginning of our day.

Unfortunately, the demands of our services didn’t end there. Hours later, we received a call from two local shelters PMHS collaborates with. They had taken in 4 abandoned puppies found under a deck, tiny and motherless, just days old. Our friends at the other shelter knew that these fragile pups wouldn’t survive without immediate care, and also knew we had just taken in a nursing mother. Our staff sprang into action, and the 4 pups were brought to us. Our sweet new mom seamlessly embraced these additional babies as if they were her own. After losing so many of her original litter, it felt like destiny. We knew that this family faced a long road ahead, and sadly, it only got more challenging from there. After testing, it was discovered that the mom was heartworm-positive, adding another layer of difficulty to their journey. Heartworm treatment involves months of specialized care and multiple medications. The only silver lining being her diagnosis wouldn’t affect her puppies in any way. (https://bit.ly/46OHRLI)

Caring for a nursing mother and her 9 pups is already a demanding task, but caring for a heartworm-positive nursing mother and her 9 pups is an even greater challenge. Although PMHS is committed to doing everything within our power to ensure that this loving family of 10, and all our animals, grow up happy, healthy, and safe, not all of these stories will have a happy ending.

Now, more than ever, it’s exceptionally tough for our shelter to care for our community’s animals in need. We’re in desperate need of funds to provide for them, and we’re reaching out to anyone who is able and willing to consider fostering. We understand that these are big asks, but our determination to advocate for animals in need remains unwavering. We will never stop fighting for animals in need- and we hope our community will step up, rally behind us and join us in this fight.

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