Franklin Co. Animal Welfare Society needs urgent help from the community

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (WKYT)—Animal shelters across the country are in crisis mode as they try to overcome high admission and low adoption rates.

The Franklin County Humane Society is pleading for help as it works to care for a full house that shows no signs of slowing down. The society took in 17 dogs this week and needs help urgently.

They say they have to keep some of these dogs in the kitchen or maintenance rooms to make ends meet.

“We’re already trying to find places for all the dogs that we have to go to, and of course the strays keep coming in,” said Christina Alves, director of the Franklin County Animal Welfare Society.

The animal protection association has 38 kennels, and Alves says they have been at maximum capacity for some time.

“On a good day, we’ll have an open kennel for that stray animal that comes in,” Alves said.

They come almost every day.

“There’s a fear. When you see a car pull up and a dog in the backseat, there’s a weight on your shoulders. Why are they here? Are they surrendering? Is it a stray dog?” Alves said.

Alves says the Animal Welfare Society is also an animal control facility, so they take in dogs that have been abandoned, neglected or involved in animal cruelty.

Six of the dogs dropped off this week have been quarantined and must stay at the shelter for at least 10 days.

“In a perfect world, everyone would come and pick up their dogs when they come in as strays and come out of quarantine,” Alves said. “A lot of them do, but a lot of them don’t.”

Alves says while they are currently trying to care for every dog, they need your help. Even if you can’t adopt, there are incredible benefits to fostering, she said.

“We can then find out how the dog is doing in a home and introduce the dog that way. We also gain an advocate for an individual dog. The shelter covers everything. They provide everything you need,” Alves said.

In the winter, Alves says adoptions usually increase. In the meantime, she reminds everyone to have their pets neutered and never get a dog they’re not ready for.

“We have a lot of great dogs,” Alves said.

If you can’t afford to adopt or foster, Alves says they accept financial donations and are always looking for volunteers.