JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Animal Care and Protective Services confirmed 56 dogs were rescued from bad conditions during a raid of two homes on Thursday.
And when you add that number to the number of other dogs that were brought into the shelter, it totaled 80 dogs in one day.
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That’s why the local overcrowded shelter is pleading with people to consider fostering or adopting the animals.
When 56 dogs were rescued from what has been described as unhealthy living conditions at two Jacksonville homes that were raided by police, they were taken to a city shelter that has 264 dog kennels but currently more than 300 dogs.
Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services Chief Michael Bricker said Thursday’s seizure of dogs placed a spotlight on the need for more people to adopt or foster animals at the shelter.
“When we came in this morning, because of all the coverage and because people knew what happened, and the social media posts, we had a line of people out here,” Bricker said.
Bricker said people who showed up at the shelter on Friday either volunteered to help walk the rescued dogs, adopt them, or foster them.
But it’s not enough.
“We really need foster homes, people that can even foster short-term, long-term, whatever. Get animals out of this facility and into their homes. We get a better picture of who that animal is and usually, sometimes those fosters turn into adopters which is another thing we need. We need people that are going to take these animals forever,” Bricker said.
“Peeples” is one of the dogs that was confiscated during Thursday’s raid. Peeples was injured and right now, Peeples needs a home.
Cindi Vanvlack is currently fostering a small older dog with special needs. The dog was not rescued during Thursday’s raid but still needed to be in a place other than a shelter.
“Fostering is lifesaving. You save the animal you’re fostering plus you open a kennel back there,” Vanvlack said.
Animal advocates say fostering these dogs will help the shelter know more about animals’ temperament. That comes in handy when someone is interested in adopting the animal.