STANWOOD — It’s no easy task in the best of times for the NOAH animal shelter to care and find homes for scores of stray and abandoned dogs and cats.
Now the north Snohomish County shelter has the added burden of caring for 74 of the 450 dogs recently seized in an alleged puppy mill operation in Skagit County.
“People have been more than generous so far, but we need continued donations,” said Kat Dockstader, the organization’s volunteer coordinator.
The Northwest Organization for Animal Help needs help to feed the dogs, pay for veterinary care and get them ready to be put up for adoption.
So far, the nonprofit organization has spent about $46,000 on the dogs, most of which are in foster care with NOAH volunteers, Dockstader said.
The former owners of the dogs agreed on Wednesday to forfeit possession of the animals. Now NOAH faces fees for spay and neuter operations, vaccinations and dental work for the dogs.
Normally, NOAH has space for about 20 adoptable dogs.
“When we joined the efforts of other shelters to care for these animals, we really stepped outside of our normal bounds,” Dockstader said. “We’ve even had a litter of puppies since we got the dogs.”
By going online to the NOAH Web site, www.thenoahcenter.org, people can find out how to donate and how to adopt a puppy mill dog.
People who are interested in adopting need to fill out an application at the center. The anticipated adoption days are set for March 27 and 28.
For those who wish to donate to the cause in person, NOAH is located at 31300 Brandstrom Road, just off I-5 at exit 215 northeast of Stanwood. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information also is available by calling 360-629-7055.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427, gfiege@heraldnet.com.
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