Just two weeks ago, the Adams County, Pennsylvania, SPCA was near capacity
as its kennels were filled with dogs needing homes. The most recent
residents are spending the holidays with their new families, and the
facility is dog-free for the first time in almost 50 years.
"To say we are ecstatic would be an understatement! The staff and
volunteers have worked VERY hard to take care of the animals in our care and
to make sure they got adopted to the proper home!” the animal shelter said
in a post on Facebook Friday. “This is the first time in 47 YEARS that the
Adams County SPCA is empty let alone at Christmas time, it is a true
miracle!”
There was one cat taking refuge at the facility, the shelter said—a stray
arriving just before the announcement.
The facility in southern Pennsylvania said it adopted out 598 animals this
year and reunited 125 strays with their owners.
Nationwide, an estimated 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters every
year, according to the ASPCA. Of those, about 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2
million are cats.
About 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized yearly, the ASPCA said, a
decrease from the estimated 2.6 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters
in 2011.
“This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage
of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals
successfully returned to their owners,” the ASPCA said.
The Adams County shelter said it would begin taking in animals from other
Pennsylvania shelters this week to help alleviate some of their stress.
“Right now, we are going to enjoy this accomplishment! Merry
Christmas!”
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