BEDFORD CO., Va. – The Bedford County Animal Shelter is reaching out for assistance as it hits full capacity with its animals. The shelter is filled with the sounds of dogs barking, each in need of a home.
Tori Fultz, a volunteer with Friends of Bedford County Animal Shelter, explained the situation: “When we are at capacity we are at about 25 dogs and right now we have 23 at the shelter and that is with the 9 boarding off-site.”
The shelter has resorted to off-site boarding to accommodate the continuous arrival of strays and surrendered animals, with nine dogs currently being boarded at local veterinary offices. Fultz expressed gratitude for the support but acknowledged the challenges: “We are really grateful that they do it but it does put a strain on them and each dog is a daily fee for the boarding and that’s coming out of FOBCAS funds and we’re totally happy to do that, but it’s not sustainable.”
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As the dogs remain in confined spaces for extended periods, shelter staff said changes in their behavior are inevitable. Fultz noted, “So unfortunately when a dog spends a long time in a kennel, they get very territorial over that little space, they get so used to it that sometimes they don’t react favorably towards people walking past their kennel and people are intimidated by it.”
One of the dogs, Grizzly, has been waiting for 175 days for his perfect match. “He loves other dogs, so that’s his thing, he likes people, but he LOVES dogs,” Fultz said.
For those looking to help, there are several ways to get involved. “Adoptions, donations, we could always use more volunteers at the shelter to walk dogs, that’s a big thing with so many dogs at the shelter you know the staff they’re overburdened,” Fultz mentioned.
However, there is hope on the horizon. Bedford County announced plans to begin an expansion project this spring, which will add 40 new kennels and 3,000 square feet to the facility. You can read more about the expansion project here: Our Bedford County Animal Shelter... - Bedford County, Virginia | Facebook
Adoption page: Welcome to FOBCAS