Officials say to think carefully before adopting animals during pandemic
By BILL BARLOW/Special to the Sentinel
OCEAN CITY – Like animal shelters around the country, the Humane Society of Ocean City has seen a run on animal adoptions during the economic shut-down of COVID-19. And like almost every other organization in the country, it has dramatically reworked its procedures to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus.
Visitors can no longer drop by the shelter on Shelter Road off Tennessee Avenue. Those interested in adoption must make an appointment ahead of time.
Fostering of animals and adoptions have hit all-time highs around the country, according to several reports.
“We did a lot of adoptions just as the epidemic started. I would say at least a dozen,” said Bill Hollingsworth, executive director of the society. “We’re down to 61 cats.”
The shelter had about 90 this time last year.
There are far fewer dogs. On a recent visit, only Gunner was at the shelter. He’s a large, rangy Pyrenees mix with black fur and a swath of white on the front. He seems amiable and happy, but Phil Bellucci, the operations director at the shelter, said Gunner should go to someone experienced in handling dogs. He can be a handful and needs someone to let him know when playtime is over.
You may be used to hearing pleas for adoption, calling on everyone to bring an animal into their home, in a recent interview both Hollingsworth and Bellucci injected a note of caution.
“Sometimes somebody sees the cute little puppy and just has to bring it home. It’s an impulse and an emotional decision, Bellucci said. Many people want a dog or cat for company while they are either working from home, laid off or on furlough. “But what happens when the economy comes back and everybody goes back to work? People just need to be willing to incorporate it into their lives. It’s a big commitment.”
Those considering adoption should also consider the potential expense, for food, vet bills and more, especially if there is an extended economic downturn, Hollingsworth said.
This is not intended to scare off potential adopters, he said, he just wants to make sure people have thought it through.
There is a list of adoptable animals on the shelter website. On a recent visit, Gunner was not listed, but a young Labrador named Molly was. The site includes video of Molly playing with a ball and information about her size, health and temperament. Adoption fees start at $200 for the youngest dogs and are reduced for older dogs, with those 8 years and older adopted for $100. Cat adoption fees are $60.
Usually, the shelter welcomes whole families to meet the animal before adoption. For now, it doesn’t work that way.
“Look online and send us a message. We try to find the right home for that particular animal,” Hollingsworth said.
Some shelters allow people to foster dogs. The Ocean City Humane Society only does that for animals with special needs, Hollingsworth said, and in those instances relies on experienced volunteers the shelter already knows. There is also a guest dog walking program most of the time, but that, too, has been suspended.
Visitors and volunteers are not allowed in the building.
The Humane Society of Ocean City is a no-kill facility. Usually, volunteers would have brought in new animals from around the state if the shelter had space, but for now, Hollingsworth will not send people to other areas.
“Our main mission is to protect the staff. Because without the staff, we can’t look after the animals,” Hollingsworth said.
The society has a contract with Ocean City to serve as the animal control officers. That includes investigating allegations of animal abuse, trapping injured wildlife and stray domesticated animals and other duties.
Each officer now has masks, gloves, goggles and a protective suit, which are to be worn before an animal control officer enters any house.
There is also a veterinary center at the center, which remains open with new restrictions in place. Clients are asked to wait in their cars until they are called on their cell phones, and then hand off the animal to a staff member in the parking lot.
On the Humane Society’s social media page, staff continue to post images and stories of adopted animals and information on fundraisers, which included a virtual concert livestreamed from the shelter May 23. The same day, the society planned a virtual campout, bringing shelter animals to a local farm and sleeping outside.
“We encourage you to virtually join us (following all social distancing procedures of course) with your pets in the back yard,” read a posted statement on the event.
Coming up, Hollingsworth plans to bike from the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall in Atlantic City to Ocean City’s Tennessee Avenue to raise money and awareness for the shelter.
Those interested in adoption or in getting more information may contact the shelter adoption counselors at (609) 398-9500 extension 1. Shelter staff ask that donations of supplies be left on the red benches located in front of the shelter building. For stray animals or injured wildlife, call animal control at (609) 398-4500, extension 3.