Early Saturday morning, a pit bull mix puppy was taken to the Lenoir County SPCA shelter on Rouse Road to receive treatment for injuries after being dragged behind a vehicle. The shelter cleaned and bandaged the puppy’s wounds, sending it to a foster home on Monday for recovery.
Susan Picard, who volunteers at the shelter and is a Lenoir County SPCA board member, was thankful the injuries weren’t more serious.
“The puppy was banged up and was skinned up on its legs, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought,” Picard said. “The puppy is eating now and it seems happy.”
The Lenoir County SPCA shelter has been a temporary home to thousands of pets, but there haven’t been many people looking to adopt. According to Lenoir County Rescue Coordinator Kris Petrusch, there were 3,280 animals taken in by the shelter in 2012, but only 1,355 were rescued and adopted for a save rate of 41 percent.
On average, about nine pets are brought into the shelter each day.
“We have so many unwanted pets coming in here,” Tammy Everett — vice president of the Lenoir County SPCA — said. “Some of their owners have fallen on hardships, lost their jobs, were evicted or staying with family and couldn’t bring their animals with them.”
Everett volunteers at Second Chances Thrift Shop on Vernon Avenue, where all profits go to the county shelter. Everett said the shelter lowered its adoption rates for Cat Adoption Month in June, but have extended the special until Aug. 1 because of the high volume of felines.
“Right now, male cats are $25 and female cats are $45,” Everett said. “Usually, male cats are $55 and females are $75. It’s helped a little bit in finding homes for them, but we’re still running out of room for them in the shelter and they keep coming.”
Roommates Brittany Barrow and Tuesdae Summerlyn went to the Lenoir County SPCA shelter on Monday with intentions to adopt a dog. Both were excited about the prospect of a faithful companion for their home.
“We want a dog to protect our house and keep us company,” Barrow said.
Summerlyn added, “When (Brittany’s) gone, the dog can be my companion at the house.”
Although there are some interested people in Lenoir County, the amount of animals brought in are still rising. When asked what local residents could do to help, Picard gave a simple answer.
“Spay. Neuter. Adopt,” Picard said. “That’s really the cure.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
Breakout box:
Want to help? Need a dog or cat?
Anyone interested in donating money can go to lenoircountyspca.org. Money can also be donated to Second Chances Thrift Store on 2900 W. Vernon Avenue and pet supplies can be sent to the Lenoir County SPCA shelter on 2455 Rouse Road Ext. in Kinston.