FLORENCE- Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services is asking people to avoid surrendering healthy pets at this time.
The National Animal Control Association is advising animal shelters to take extra measures to reduce shelter intake to mitigate the short and long-term effects of COVID-19. “We’re asking owners who want to surrender their pets but aren’t facing an immediate crisis to hold off for four weeks and surrender at a later date,” said Cheryl Jones, Director at FLAS. “For pet owners who need to surrender immediately, they must contact the shelter to make an appointment.”
Animal Services will remain open for business by appointment only at 256-760-6676.
FLAS is also searching for emergency fosters who can take home a pet to reduce the number of animals at the shelter. FLAS has food, supplies, and crates they can provide to owners who need them to keep their pets and those who can foster.
“Right now, we’re focused on reducing the number of animals at the shelter,” said Jones. “We’ve had higher-than-usual intake since we opened at this facility and want to get ahead of any worsening in the trend. FLAS operates at or near capacity every day, and reducing intake and maintaining outcomes is essential to avoid overcrowding in the shelter.”
FLAS is also asking people who find stray pets to consider fostering them until the shelter can resume normal operations, said Jones. People who can’t adopt or foster can also help by donating needed items to the shelter. For more information, please contact cjones@florenceal.org or call (256) 760-6676.
Media Release/Rachel Mansell Koonce/City of Florence/Media & Sustainability
