15 dogs escape euthanasia, arrive at Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County

Janet Begley, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·2 min read
1

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Ten adult dogs and five puppies slated for euthanasia at an undisclosed rural northwest Florida shelter have been rescued by the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.

The dogs arrived Thursday at the shelter on 77th Street and are undergoing examination by shelter veterinarians and other personnel.

According to society CEO Kate Meghji, the dogs are part of a nationwide problem experienced at shelters across the country since the start of the pandemic.

Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County clinical staff members attend to ten dogs and five puppies brought to the Humane Society office from northwest Florida on Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Indian River County. The dogs were checked to determine their health, as well as vaccination and medicated upon their arrival at their facility.
Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County clinical staff members attend to ten dogs and five puppies brought to the Humane Society office from northwest Florida on Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Indian River County. The dogs were checked to determine their health, as well as vaccination and medicated upon their arrival at their facility.

“For years, intake at shelters has been going down, but in 2022, we’ve seen a jump in owner surrenders and strays in many areas,” said Meghji. “Even at our shelter, owner surrenders are up 20% so far this year.”

Meghji attributes the jump to issues with housing, where owners have had to downsize residences, move in with family and in some cases, became homeless.

Help make room: Adopt or foster dogs who've been at Humane Society a while

Leash law: Pet cats shouldn't roam free in Indian Rver County

“A lot of times, we are able to help and keep pets with their families,” said Meghji. "But sometimes, people are just left with no other options.”

The dogs from the Panhandle were turned over to the shelter by owners who could no longer afford to care for them, or they were picked up by animal control.

They received little or no medical care, were not spayed or neutered, had no vaccinations and no socialization — all things that the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.is ready and willing to provide.

Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County clinical staff members (from left) Jennifer Hudick, Dr. Tanya Ciacciarelli, and Ally Velarde reach out to check the condition of one of ten dogs, and five puppies brought to the Humane Society office from northwest Florida on Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Indian River County. The dogs were checked to determine their health, as well as vaccination and medicated upon their arrival at their facility.

The adult dogs are mixed breed, something Meghji likes to call “designer hybrids,” but most of the puppies seem to be some type of hound mix. Although they appear to be in good health, Meghji said she will quarantine the dogs until they make sure it’s safe to expose them to other shelter animals.

Once the dogs are available for adoption, the shelter will place them for adoption in stages to minimize the stress an animal often feels when moving from a shelter to home environment. Some will make it to foster care while they recuperate from any medical needs they may have before they can be adopted permanently.

Two animal carriers containing five puppies are waiting to be checked in by the staff at the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County after their arrival from northwest Florida on Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Indian River County. Ten dogs and five puppies were checked to determine their health, as well as vaccination and medicated upon their arrival at their facility.

Want to adopt?

  • Adoption information will become available after the dogs are evaluated and receive medical care.

  • If you would like to make a donation for their care, please visit www.hsvb.org or call (772) 388-3331 for more information.

Janet Begley is a local freelance writer for TCPalm.com. If you like articles like this and other TCPalm coverage of Treasure Coast news, please support our journalism and subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: 15 dogs arrive at Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County