Donations and offers of new homes have been flooding into Richmond’s animal shelter after 38 dogs were dropped off anonymously in cages in the dead of night.
And if people follow through on their gestures to give the dogs new homes, the Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) will have no problem adopting out all the dogs, said City of Richmond spokesman Ted Townsend.
The surprise doorstep delivery, sometime overnight Thursday into Friday, will likely cost the shelter in the region of $15,000.
However, RAPS’ executive director, Carol Reichert, was just happy the owner chose to hand them over in decent health.
Recalling a frantic phone call Friday morning from the first staff member on the scene, Reichert feared the worst for the state of the the small dogs — mostly terrier, Yorkie and Chihuahua crosses.
“She was shrieking so loud I couldn’t make out what she was saying,” said Reichert of the staff member’s discovery of the dogs in about a dozen large cages at the shelter on No. 5 Road in south Richmond.
“They are so nice, very socialized. Whoever dropped them off cared for them.”
Reichert isn’t sure what kind of environment the dogs, just two of which are pups, have come from.
What she is sure of is the added financial strain on the shelter from having to vaccinate, spay, neuter and then board the dogs until they’re cleared for adoption.
“It could take up to a month to find them all new homes, by which we could be nearing $15,000,” adding that she’s also had to call in extra staff to deal with the new arrivals.
“But they’re all in good health and so socialized, that will make it easier to get adopted.”
The mystery drop-off appears to have been mirrored overnight Thursday into Friday over in New Westminster, where 12 dogs were dumped at the city’s animal shelter.
If you’d like to adopt one of the dogs, any of the other animals at RAPS, or donate, drop in at their shelter on 12071 No. 5 Rd., call them at 604-275-2036 or log onto www.rapsociety.com.
RAPS also has its annual Paws & Pumpkins fundraiser next month.
