BURGAW – Late last year, Pender County authorities arrested a woman on animal abuse charges, confiscating 15 dogs and a cat. Now the animals are in desperate need of help, again.
According to Jewell Horton, director of the Pender County Animal Shelter, the dogs and cat were in rough shape. The animals were older, with the dogs between seven and 15 years old, and the cat at least 15 years old. The senior pets were suffering from malnourishment, skin diseases and other ailments.
“There was inadequate housing, they’d received inadequate veterinary care. There was one pet who was in particularly bad condition – really, grave condition – and had to go to our veterinarian immediately,” Horton said.
The cat was also in severe need of medical care, Horton said.
“The cat had a severe urinary blockage, something like 100 bladder stones that had to be taken care of,” Horton said.
Over the next 10 weeks, the animal cruelty case was continued or delayed several times – in the meantime, the shelter took care of the animals. Finally, the case ended. The defendant was found guilty and, as part of her sentence, lost custody of the animals.
However, the Pender County animal shelter was not awarded restitution – leaving Horton and her staff with $7,000 in veterinary bills.
“We had to start asking the community for help – we just didn’t have the money. We don’t usually have our entire fund drained all at once like that,” Horton said.
With funds exhausted, Horton is struggling to find the animals – many of whom have medical conditions, and all of whom are older – new homes.
“They’re loving animals, they’ve just had a rough time – we need to find them sanctuary,” Horton said.
While the cat and several of the dogs have found new homes Horton said that, sadly, one of the dogs had to be euthanized due to its medical condition.
And, Horton said, six dogs still need homes.
Anyone interested should contact the Pender County Animal Shelter at 910-259-1484 or by email at animalshelter@pendercountync.gov. The shelter is located at 3280 New Savannah Road in Burgaw.
The shelter is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m.
Adoption fee is $75 and includes vaccines, deworming, flea and tick treatments, microchips, veterinarian checkup and spaying or neutering.
On the map: Pender County Animal Shelter
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