As is the case across the country, the Daviess County Animal Shelter has seen a sharp decline in the number of animals they are currently housing.
Ashley Thompson, animal shelter director, said the number of animals at the shelter can be counted on one hand right now. The maximum the shelter can house on average is 80 dogs and 80 cats.
“I’ve been here almost 12 years and there’s never been a situation like this before,” she said.
Thompson said there are a variety of factors leading to the low numbers, including fewer intakes combined with increased adoptions and rescues during COVID-19.
“It might be a combination of things,” Thompson said. “The virus is going around and keeping more people home, so the animals aren’t as much of an inconvenience if people are home. More people are staying home and not letting their animals run loose.”
Thompson said the number of animals taken in by the shelter had already been gradually going down over the years, adding 2019 was the only year when the intake was higher than the previous year.
She attributed the decline to Daviess County’s spay and neuter program, as well as other local groups that offer the service for a fraction of the price to people with limited incomes.
Thompson said she expects intakes to spike starting in June, meaning the shelter won’t be staying quiet for long.
Though they haven’t needed as many hands on deck in recent weeks, Thompson said it takes a full effort to run the shelter.
“It takes everybody,” she said. “It’s not just me. It’s my staff, the volunteers, Fiscal Court, everybody in the community that helps together. That’s what makes this possible.”
