BENTON, Ky. — Shelters in the region are at capacity, and many of them organized adoption events in celebration of National Dog Day. Chuck Pombert, a Marshall County resident, dedicates his time at the Humane Society of Marshall County to give extra attention to dogs, and allows them to decompress from the busy shelter environment.
Chuck Pombert and Tundra as seen on Monday, Aug. 26. Pombert dedicates his time to rehabilitate shelter dogs by giving them one-on-one attention and teaching them commands.
Since 2023, Pombert has rehabilitated more than 10 dogs by teaching them basic command skills, which allow them a better chance of getting adopted while he pursues his passion. He even involved his family in the matter.
“We teach them to sit and stay calm,” Pombert said. “They sit at the door when we do our walks. When we stop, they will stop and sit next to us. I get to work with all the new dogs from the shelter, the ones that are a little more on the wild side. My wife and son work with the more tame dogs.”
Dogs seen at the Humane Society of Marshall County on National Dog Day. The shelter has 18 dogs and no room for intakes.
The McCracken County Humane Society has 110 dogs, Murray-Calloway County Animal Shelter has 23 dogs, Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter has 56 dogs, Project Hope in Metropolis has 30 dogs, and Marshall County Animal Shelter has 80 dogs.
The Humane Society of Marshall County has 18 dogs, each surrendered under different circumstances. Pombert said people are unaware that shelter dogs take time to get used to a new environment.
Ophelia has been living at the Humane Society of Marshall County since April 19, 2024. Fun fact: she's obsessed with water hoses.
“I worked with my dog two months before we brought her home,” Pombert said. “It still took a good three to four months before she settled in. We're still teaching her how to be a dog, because she didn't have a puppyhood, and you could see it in the way she is. Dogs take longer.”
Humane Society of Marshall County Manager Leann Ferguson noted that more people are surrendering their dogs than ever before. It's a trend she said has been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.
Leann Ferguson with Tundra. Ferguson said vet visits, rising cost in dog food, and time dedication are factors that force families to get rid of their pet. She said neutering or spaying an animal can help in keeping shelters clear.
Ferguson attributes the high cost of vet visits, dog food prices, and high demand in work schedules as the reasons people are surrendering their pets.
“When these people bring them in, or they tell us about the dog, you can immediately tell this was an owned dog that has been either set free or just dumped,” Ferguson said. “Some of them are clean-cut like they have been to a groomer. They have short toenails. Some even have collars on or have permanent indentions in their hair where they've had collars on for years.”
While the shelter is full, Ferguson commends Pombert for his work with the dogs, who now understand basic commands, which makes cleaning, feeding, and getting adoptions easier.
“They really help us,” Ferguson said. “We know that when it comes to dogs, most people don't want something like a rabid raccoon. They don't want a wild dog that jumps all over you or uses the bathroom everywhere and acts like a fish on the line when you put it on a leash. They want something that's a little more behaved.”
Ferguson said surrenders are becoming the leading reason dogs end up in shelters.
Each shelter in the area needs volunteers or supplies. Click the links to find out how to help: The McCracken County Humane Society /Murray-Calloway County Animal Shelter / Mayfield-Graves County Animal Shelter / Project Hope Humane Society- Metropolis / The Marshall County Animal Shelter / Humane Society of Marshall County / Crittenden County Animal Shelter / Caldwell County Animal Shelter
Multi-platform Journalist
