Spread the love

By Cara Beth Lewis

In the first week of November, National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is recognized nationally. The week is set aside to honor those who selflessly help animals that are stray or have been abandoned. These people work hard to provide for these animals and keep them healthy until they are adopted and go to their forever home.

According to nationaldaycalendar.com, There are about 70 million stray animals in the United States. Up to 8 million of these animals end up in shelters. There are 3,500 animal shelters in the country. It’s at these animal shelters that pets receive a second chance. According to the ASPCA, over 3 million shelter animals are adopted each year.

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week was founded in 1996 by the Humane Society of the United States. Their goal was to acknowledge and promote the role of animal shelters nation-wide. Another goal of the week is to encourage citizens to become familiar with their local animal shelter and help them when possible. Many animals are in need of a home, and animal shelters serve a very important role in the process of finding them one.

There are many ways you can help your local shelter. Listed below are a few ideas:

Adopt or foster a pet.

This is probably the best way that you can help, since the number one goal of animal shelters is to find permanent homes for animals in need.

Donate funds or supplies.

Shelters are always appreciative of donations that can make the lives of the animals in their care better. Whether it is toys and food for the animals, or money so the shelter can choose what they need most, shelters are appreciative of extra assistance.

Volunteer.

If you are unable to adopt, there are many different ways you could offer your time to help at the animal shelter.

In Bladen County, A Shelter Friend, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with a vision: To end the killing of homeless and unwanted pets. The volunteers at A Shelter Friend stated, “We believe that a world which shows empathy toward animals will show more compassion and tolerance toward each other.” A Shelter Friend works to provide positive publicity and increase visibility of the Bladen County Animal Shelter to increase adoptions.

Bladen County Animal Control partners with local veterinarians for community rabies vaccination clinics, picks up unwanted or stray animals, especially those with no tag, investigates animal bites, provides for “adoption” of homeless animals, and enforces state rabies statutes.

More information about Bladen County Animal Shelter:

Animal Shelter Hours:

The shelter is open to the public for all animal-related services, during the following hours:

Animal Drop Off Monday-Friday 8:30 – 5:00 pm

Adoptions Monday -Friday 12:00 – 5:00 pm

Animal Pickup Monday-Friday 8:30 – 5:00 pm

Saturday Closed

Sunday Closed

Emergency service hours:

The shelter promptly responds to animal emergencies during non-business hours. Any situation in which a domestic or wild animal is creating a danger to the public is considered an emergency. Call 911 for all emergency calls and they will contact the Animal Control Officer on-call.

Both of the animal services listed above would appreciate help from the community. Whether you adopt, donate, or volunteer, it would be greatly appreciated.

Contact A Shelter Friend at (910)876-0539.

Contact Bladen County Animal Shelter at (910)862-6918.