Vero Beach humane society at capacity; veterinarians take in some dogs
VERO BEACH — On a typical day, the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County takes in about eight animals. But on Thursday, June 1, that number skyrocketed to 36, an almost unprecedented situation, according to Chief Executive Officer Kate Meghji.
“Intakes are increasing and adoptions are decreasing,” said Meghji. “We’re averaging about a 20% uptake in animal surrenders this year, and we’ve been facing capacity issues within our kennels for months.”
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Pet surrenders are up across the country, Meghji said, for a variety of reasons including the lack of affordable housing that will accept animals; the state of the economy; the high cost of veterinary care.
On Friday, the shelter had 121 cats and 71 dogs in-house, with more animals in temporary foster care.
The overwhelming challenge of finding space for so many dogs at the shelter had Meghji turn to Dr. Peter Mosites, owner of Mermaid Vet Hospital/Orchid Island Dog Spa & Resort in Vero Beach for assistance.
Mosites and his wife Reina are veterinarians and recently purchased the Orchid Island Dog Spa & Resort. The couple agreed to house 20 dogs for the shelter at their boarding facility on Old Dixie Highway near 65th Street.
“We are immensely grateful to Mermaid Vet Hospital/Orchid Island Dog Spa & Resort for their incredible support and willingness to assist us during this challenging time," said Meghji. “Their partnership allows us to ensure that every animal in our community receives the care and attention they deserve while we work diligently to find them loving homes."
The partnership between the Humane Society and Mermaid Vet highlights the significance of community collaboration in addressing animal welfare challenges, Meghji said. By pooling their resources and expertise, both organizations hope to inspire others in the community to come forward and play their part in making a difference for animals in need.
"When Peter told me he had 20 kennels open, I could have cried," Meghji said. "And he agreed right away for us to train his staff to help with adoptions, which means the dogs can hopefully find a new home sooner."Dr. Peter Mosites said he was thrilled to be able to lend his capabilities to the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, furthering their mission of finding loving families for the dogs of Indian River County and beyond.
"As veterinarians, we all too often see the consequences of long-term displacement on pets and are excited to contribute to helping these pups find forever homes,” said Mosites.
Want to adopt?
All 20 dogs transferred to the Orchid Island Dog Spa & Resort are available for adoption. Visit them during business hours at 6590 Old Dixie Highway, or call 772-217-8257. Hours of operation are Monday – Sunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
To view all animals available for adoption at the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, visit the website at www.hsvb.org or call 772-388-3331 for more information.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach humane society at capacity; veterinarians take in some dogs
