• Home
  • TRAINING FOR BEGINNERS
    • EXERCISES
    • PETS
  • CBD
  • PRODUCTS
  • TRENDING
  • PET NEWS
  • PET TRAVEL
  • Advertise Here
No Result
View All Result
Plugin Install : Cart Icon need WooCommerce plugin to be installed.
  • Home
  • TRAINING FOR BEGINNERS
    • EXERCISES
    • PETS
  • CBD
  • PRODUCTS
  • TRENDING
  • PET NEWS
  • PET TRAVEL
  • Advertise Here
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home PETS

It’s been raining dogs on Bellingham’s animal shelter this winter

by Doggone Well Staff
February 28, 2025
in PETS
38 1
0
It’s been raining dogs on Bellingham’s animal shelter this winter
32
SHARES
356
VIEWS
Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Dog Food topper - Getquelle365


BELLINGHAM – The Whatcom County Humane Society has been at full capacity in terms of the number of dogs it shelters for more than two years now, and a recent wave of puppy litter drop-offs has the facility searching high and low for adoption options.

Since Jan. 1 the shelter has taken in more than 56 new puppies, including a litter of nine on Sunday and another litter of seven Tuesday, according to Executive Director Laura Clark.

“That number is bonkers,” Clark said.

The Whatcom county facility is one of the only open-admission shelters in the Northwest, meaning it’s their policy not to turn away animals.

Despite being at capacity, Clark said there are no plans to change the open-admission policy, which has been a point of pride for the shelter since it opened more than 120 years ago in 1902.

Dog Food topper - Getquelle365

“We have become a bit of a dumping ground, and that is not fair to our community’s animals,” Clark said. “We will always remain a proud open-admission animal shelter. It is a foundation of what we do.”

Clark said there is a “tremendous pet overpopulation problem” driving the ongoing capacity issues at the facility.

“We as a community have to actively tackle it together in order to reduce the number of animals needing homes,” Clark said.

The two best ways to reduce the number of animals is to spay and neuter pets and to adopt and take care of local animals, according to Clark.

A lot of animals are being brought in from out of county, and there are already enough in Whatcom County that need attention, Clark said.

The shelter is running a special canine adoption program that launched Wednesday and runs through March 9. Adoption fees for dogs or puppies are 50% off during that period.

“When we get this crowded we have to get creative in terms of how we are trying to get animals adopted” Clark said. “The goal is still permanent, responsible and loving (homes). So we want to never lose sight of what the adoption needs to be. It needs to work for the adopter and the adopted pet, but sometimes doing something like having a small reduction in the adoption fee can motivate people to come in and take a second look.”

Before a dog is adopted the staff at the shelter do their best to make sure the animal is going to a home that can appropriately care for it. That includes making sure a home has enough space and giving adopters time with an animal to make sure it’s a good match.

For an animal shelter, being at capacity full time means having to “juggle” animals between rescue partners, foster homes and the facility. In some cases, a euthanasia decision is necessary, usually if an animal has a behavioral or health problem. The shelter is currently keeping 74 dogs in Whatcom County foster homes and rescue centers, 25 of which are puppies under the age of 6 months, Clark said.

The shelter took in more than 1,000 dogs and another 1,000 cats in 2024 alone. It is very rare for a dog to be euthanized because there is not enough space. According to records provided by the shelter, only one dog was put down for spacing issues in 2024, along with five cats, while more than 100 dogs and cats each were put down for behavioral, health and other reasons.

“It is our staff’s struggle every day, from the start of the day to the end, trying to figure out our capacity to care, and where we can humanely house all the animals that are coming into the building,” Clark said.

The 16 new puppies the shelter has taken in need to be medically cleared before they can be put up for adoption. Clark said the process takes a couple of weeks, and puppies are usually pretty popular when it comes time for adoption. However, Clark said there also are some older and larger dogs that have been in the shelter for far too long.

On average, a dog may spend about 30-40 days at the shelter before adoption. There are some dogs that have been in the shelter since October.

“We are almost in March. That is so long for an animal to sit in a kennel,” Clark said. “We really are having to re-examine how we are caring for those animals, how we are marketing those animals to the public, what are our options for those animals? They are sitting in kennels waiting to find homes. All the rescues, all the shelters are full, and you go back and say, ‘It’s just a really hard time to be an animal.’”

Most of the dogs that have been waiting for months for a home are larger dogs that require special accommodations. Clark said small- and medium-sized dogs can be taken by most homes, but larger breed dogs need more resources and space.

“The small dogs, the puppies tend to be adopted quicker because they are cuter, they show better,” Clark said. “A 5-year-old German shepard is a tougher dog to find a home for than the 8-week-old mixed-breed puppy.”

The shelter still has some room for cats, but that’s not expected to last. Cats usually only start breeding in the warmer weather, meaning there are a lot less of them in the winter. Clark said they are expecting an increase in kittens within the next few weeks.

Anyone interested in adoption can view currently available animals at the Whatcom County Humane Society website, which also provides information on volunteering and fostering opportunities.



Source link

Dog Food topper - Getquelle365
Tags: AnimalBellinghamsdogsrainingShelterwinter
Tweet8Share13Share3Share
Previous Post

9 Times Dogs Outwitted Humans for More Treats

Next Post

Doggone Good Luck – Community Helps Lost Dog Get Home | Ackley World Journal

Doggone Well Staff

Next Post
Doggone Good Luck – Community Helps Lost Dog Get Home | Ackley World Journal

Doggone Good Luck - Community Helps Lost Dog Get Home | Ackley World Journal

Youtube Channel

Currently Playing

Jealous Dog Want Attention Compilation NEW

Jealous Dog Want Attention Compilation NEW

00:06:28

Best Of Funny Guilty Dog Compilation 2014

00:05:32

Best Dog Birthday Surprise: DIY Ball Pit for Maymo

00:01:39

How a little microchip changed this dog's life!!! Please share this important video. #dog

00:05:48

Follow Our Page

Popular Post

    Follow Us

    Category

    • CBD
    • EXERCISES
    • Home
    • NEW POSTS
    • PET NEWS
    • PET TRAVEL
    • PETS
    • PRODUCTS
    • TRAINING FOR BEGINNERS
    • TRENDING

    Tag Cloud

    Adoption Animal Animals Attack breeds Care Cat Cats County Day Death dog Dog as Pet Dog Owner dogs Family Fire food health Home house Humane Life Local Love Man Meet news Owners Park people Pets Police Puppy Rescue Safe Shelter Society Stray Tips Top Vet Ways Week Woman

    Recent News

    OCHS adoptable pet: Bubbie is a cuddler

    OCHS adoptable pet: Bubbie is a cuddler

    July 19, 2025
    Dog killed after airborne car crashes into Sydney backyard

    Dog killed after airborne car crashes into Sydney backyard

    July 19, 2025
    • DMCA
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Privacy Policy

    © 2022 Doggone Well - doggone well.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • TRAINING FOR BEGINNERS
      • EXERCISES
      • PETS
    • CBD
    • PRODUCTS
    • TRENDING
    • PET NEWS
    • PET TRAVEL
    • Advertise Here

    © 2022 Doggone Well - doggone well.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In