I just got home from my volunteer shift at MN Valley Humane Society. It was so busy today. It's great news, because hopefully the animals there will get homes before the shelter closes at the end of the month. Most people seemed to be interested in cats (especially the kittens), at least while I was there. Lots of people bringing donations of food & treats too.
It just makes me wonder what could have happened if someone was able to get some media attention when they were trying to get funding for a new home. If this many people came out after the media announced the shelter was closing, it probably would have made a difference if people knew that the shelter needed funding to move to a new space or they would have to close. It's a little late now ... but it's frustrating to think about. I, along with several other volunteers who have "real jobs" in media relations/PR had offered to help if they needed any connections in the local media, and they didn't use us at all.
Oh well, it was positive to see so many people coming to look at the pets ... I heard so many people saying that they didn't realize there were so many pets available for adoption. One positive thing that might come of this is that it will open some more eyes to the number of homeless pets who need help. Hopefully all the MVHS animals get homes soon so they don't have to get transferred to other shelters at the end of the month.
Re: update: busy day at MVHS!
There was media attention because I remember seeing it on the news a few times. When I saw on the news the other night that they were closing it wasn't a shock to me because I remember seeing the other stories telling of how it could close if the funding didn't come in.
But, it's great that people are coming in and doing what they can now (donating food and supplies or adopting). Hopefully all those animals find loving homes soon!
The pets will be available for adoption through MVHS until Dec. 31 when they will close. Any pets not yet adopted will be transferred to other shelters. They will not euthanize any unadopted animals, but obviously, it would be better for the pets to get adopted than get transferred to another shelter. Moving them around a bunch of times is hard on them ... but of course moving an extra time is a million times better than being put to sleep.
Mr. Sammy Dog
- Martin Luther King Jr.