Yellow Pages
From Seattle to the San Juans, animal rescue organizations are sifting through hundreds of adoption applications for the 443 dogs confiscated from a Big Lake kennel in January.
Many will need lots of attention and could have lifelong health problems, say the volunteers taking care of them now.
“They have never smelled fresh air. They have never touched grass. They have never walked on the leash,” said Amber Yoo, communication manager for the Seattle Humane Society. “… A lot of the females came in with mammary tumors, and that is from reproducing and reproducing and reproducing.”
Yoo said her shelter took 57 of the dogs seized from Marjorie and Richard Sundberg’s kennel and still has most up for adoption. The Sundbergs forfeited the dogs in early March, but volunteers said it has taken weeks to get the dogs spayed or neutered, and healthy enough for adoption.
“Basically, these pets need special homes, and I think that is the hardest thing that we are finding,” Yoo said. “There might be a possibility that they will not be house-trained.”
Despite health problems and the need for training, adoptions are happening quickly at the Humane Society of Skagit Valley and Stanwood-based Northwest Organization for Animal Help, or N.O.A.H.
“About 80 percent of the dogs just stayed in foster care,” Sandy Nelson, executive director of the Humane Society of Skagit Valley, said of the mostly small dogs.
Nelson said just a handful of the 47 dogs and four litters of puppies under her shelter’s care are still available. Most need a quiet, single-dog home or are too young to be adopted out, she said.
Places with dogs up for adoption
Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor: The society had about 10 dogs from the Sundberg kennel in Big Lake, and adoptions are pending for the last three. http://www.apsfh.org or 360-378-2158.
Humane Society of Skagit Valley, Burlington: Most of the shelter’s 47 dogs have been adopted. Quiet, single-dog homes are still wanted for a few special needs dogs. http://www.skagithumane.com or 360-757-0445.
Northwest Organization for Animal Help (N.O.A.H.), Stanwood: Adoptions are pending for the last 21 of 74 dogs. http://www.thenoahcenter.org or 360-629-7055.
Old Dog Haven, Arlington: This shelter has several older dogs in need of adoption. http://www.olddoghaven.org or 360-653-0311.
Saving Pets One at a Time (S.P.O.T.), Skagit County: Most of SPOT’s 275 dogs are still up for adoption. http://www.savingpetsoneatatime.org or 360-336-5388.
Seattle Humane Society: Most of the 57 dogs placed with this shelter have yet to be adopted. http://www.seattlehumane.org or 425-649-7563.
