CUMBERLAND — Staff reporting to work Wednesday at the Allegany County Animal Shelter were surprised to find 22 dogs in carriers left outside the facility with a note that the owner could no longer care for them.
Undaunted by the task of finding homes for the mixed poodle-Maltese dogs that ranged from 3 weeks to 2 years old, networking and a few phone calls led to placement of the dogs all in one location.
“We started looking for some rescues and lucked out with one in Chantilly, Va., who said they would take all of them, regardless of their ages and medical conditions,” said Karl Brubaker, who directs the shelter located on Furnace Street.
“They came last night at about 7:30 p.m., and picked them up to take straight to their vet,” he said Thursday afternoon.
“We were a little surprised to find a home for them so quickly, but these are small dogs and a highly adoptable breed that go very quickly. It would have been more difficult if it involved a larger dog,” said the Preston County, W.Va., native.
Brubaker said he’s a bit skeptical about the ownership of the dogs that were dropped at the shelter’s front door without warning.
“Anytime you get that number of dogs of one breed at one time you have to wonder if it is some kind of breeding operation that went wrong. That’s not to say it’s not possible that it could have been one owner.
“Originally we thought there were 18 dogs but when we got them cleaned up and sorted out there were actually 22. Fourteen of them were puppies from 3 to 4 weeks to 6 to 7 weeks old,” he said.
Brubaker said his biggest concern was finding a rescue operation that could provide the shelter and care for the abandoned 22 canines.
“We got it all worked out by noon yesterday and that makes us feel like we are moving in the right direction. Six months ago we couldn’t have done that and we would have been consumed the whole day just dealing with the situation,” said Brubaker.
The poodles are now in the care of the A Forever Home Rescue Foundation, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization in northern Virginia. The foundation may be contacted at www.aforeverhome.org.
Efforts by the Times-News to contact an official at the foundation were unsuccessful.
Thursday, there were approximately 55 dogs and 130 cats housed at the Allegany County shelter. Four employees were on duty along with about a dozen volunteers.
A volunteer orientation Tuesday drew about 40 people who offered their volunteer services to the shelter.
“Our philosophy is to do as much as we can for every animal every day,” said Brubaker.
Anyone interested in providing homes for animals being housed at the shelter may call 301-777-5930. Brubaker may be reached at 240-362-2656.
Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.
Latest news
22 puppies found at shelter
Staff finds placement for dogs in one location
- Latest news
-
-
Maryland puts new Allegany High on drawing board
Allegany County Public School officials got the go-ahead from the state this week to start designing a new Allegany High School — a project many here have dreamed about for decades.
-
Man sentenced in Bel Air pharmacy robbery
A 21-year-old man charged in a 2011 drug store robbery faces the possibility of a long time in prison despite a sentence of one year and one day to serve in a Maryland prison.
-
Free fishing waters sought by state service
The Maryland Fisheries Service will soon begin a county-by-county look, seeking streams, rivers, ponds or lakes where anybody can fish without having a license.
-
Same-sex marriage supporters plan city rally
Supporters of Maryland’s same-sex marriage law plan a July rally in downtown Cumberland.
-
Garrett school board won’t rescind decision to close schools
Members of the Garrett County Board of Education hope to use some of the $1 million-plus it will receive in additional state funding to return eight personnel to the schools, according to interim Superintendent of Schools Sue Waggoner.
-
Keyser officials approve huge water, sewer rate increases
The Keyser City Council approved hikes Wednesday to water and sewer rates that have been in place since 1999. The first of several increases, to be phased in over a period of several years, takes effect in 45 days.
-
Police charge family members in fight
CUMBERLAND — Cumberland Police charged two family members after investigating a fight that broke out Wednesday night in the 500 block of Woodside Avenue.
-
DelFest offers variety of fun ... oh yeah, and music
CUMBERLAND — Artist play shops, late-night shows, camping, trolley rides, bluegrass band competition, a kid zone, painting, music instruction, puppet shows, petting zoo, art show, tie-dye making, yoga, hula-hooping classes, food vendors, craft vendors and of course lots of live music by more than 30 different recording artists will all be at the Allegany County Fairgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend for the fifth annual DelFest.
-
DelFest workshops popular with musicians near and far
CUMBERLAND — Four fun-filled, bluegrass stompin’ days along the Potomac River are just around the corner.
For the fifth year, the annual DelFest Bluegrass Memorial Day Weekend has arrived at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. The official musical lineup does not commence playing until this Thursday, but for the real diehards the DelFest Academy took off Monday evening. -
No tax hike in city spending plan
City residents won’t pay higher taxes next year, and trash removal costs won’t increase, according to the fiscal 2013 budget approved on a first reading Tuesday night.
- More Latest news Headlines
-
Maryland puts new Allegany High on drawing board
