Foster Homes Needed for Incoming Animals
Volunteer Jamie Simpson stands by the loaded U-Haul truck, ready to make the trip back down to West Virginia.
by Olivia Wasilko
Flooding in West Virginia has led to the relocation of many pets from affected shelters to safe places like Orphans of the Storm shelter in Kittanning. Unfortunately, the small shelter may not have enough room to board extra animals while recovering from a recent outbreak of the feline/canine distemper virus.
To combat overcrowding, the shelter is searching for suitable foster homes where animals can stay until they can return to their West Virginia homes or be newly adopted.
As Orphans of the Storm takes supplies to West Virginia to help animals that can’t be transported, they are also bringing back litters of puppies and kittens with nowhere else to turn.
Busy Beaver of Kittanning is also providing assistance in the relocation efforts.
“They were just wonderful to us,” said Bethann Galbraith, manager of the shelter. “The whole back of my van is full of totes, shovels, garbage bags, and things that they donated.”
That’s not all they had to give, though. Jamie and Drew Simpson, volunteers from West Virginia, spent the morning with Galbraith loading a U-Haul truck with bags of cat and dog food, crates, bedding, and more.
Jamie Simpson is active in the world of animal rescues. Apart from working with Homeward Bound West Virginia, Simpson has joined the recently-started West Virginia Animal Advocates.
Founded by Darlene Bolyard, a longtime friend of the Orphans of the Storm, the West Virginia Animal Advocates volunteers have been extremely supportive of the animal relocation project.
Simpson herself is involved in transport and picking up cargo. She and several other women from West Virginia are planning to bring up the first litter of puppies this weekend.
Simpson believes that education is the key to avoiding shelter problems such as overcrowding or even neglect.
“I think people aren’t really aware of the numbers of animals in shelters and the need they have,” she said. “That’s why I believe in rescue.”
Any home may be able to foster these animals. Applications are available on the shelter’s Facebook page, or the shelter’s office on Route 85 in Kittanning. Donations to aid the shelters in West Virginia are also still being accepted.
Local News | Olivia Wasilko July 8, 2016
By omgicantbelieveit, July 10, 2016 @ 8:42 AM
This makes no sense to me. I have called Orphans numerous times over the years for assistance with stray cats and kittens. They always tell me there’s no room yet they have room for animals from West Virginia?