The Atlanta Humane Society closes at 6 p.m. on Saturdays, but today staff remained at the facility after hours to welcome more than a dozen dogs.
14 homeless dogs arrived in Atlanta from Louisiana as a result of what the Red Cross is calling the worst natural disaster to affect the United States in four years.
The dogs who arrived at the Humane Society’s Howell Mill location aren’t necessarily homeless from the recent flooding in Louisiana, however.
“[The dogs] have to go through a ‘stray hold’ and we want to try to make sure that owners have a chance to reclaim their animals,” Diana Robinson, director of operations for the Atlanta Humane Society’s Mansell campus said. “These animals that we’ve brought in were animals that they already had at the facility that were through the ‘stray hold’ or had been owner surrendered by folks who just weren’t going to be able to take them back. We wanted to help clear out space so that [the facility] had more space to bring in flood victims and strays for people to find.”
Robinson arrived at the Atlanta Humane Society’s Howell Mill campus with the dogs shortly after the rescue and adoption organization closed on Aug. 20. Some of the animals will eventually be transported to the Mansell campus.
Most of the dogs that were brought to the shelter are young adults whose breeds range from dachshund to bloodhound.
If you’re looking to adopt a dog right away, you might not get one of the ones that were just rescued from Louisiana.
According to Robinson, many of those dogs tested positive for heartworms and will need to start treatment, in addition to receiving standard vet checks, spaying and neutering.
It’s hard to say when they’ll be ready for adoption, she said..
The best way for prospective pet owners to see which dogs are available for adoption is to check the Atlanta Humane Society's Facebook page regularly.
She also stressed that adopting animals from a shelter at any time can help to save lives when disaster strikes because shelters will have room to take in more animals.
“There are always really great shelter animals who desperately need homes,” she said. “The more animals we can save here, the more animals we can pull from other areas.”
Adopting a dog at the Atlanta Humane Society ranges in price from $125-$250, including vaccines, microchips, spaying and neutering, depending on the age of the dog.
Robinson said the Louisiana rescue was a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States.
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