PRINCETON —
Dogs and cats that lived recently in conditions compared to a concentration camp are now gaining weight and on the road to adoption.
Thirty dogs and eight cats were brought Oct. 7 to the Mercer County Animal Shelter after they were found on property off Route 112. Many of them were malnourished; in some cases, bones were clearly visible under their fur.
Now they are receiving the care they need before they are available for adoption, said Lisa Nisbet, the animal shelter’s director.
“They all have to go into foster care until they get vetted and get healthy, because a lot of them are underweight,” Nisbet said. “Most of them are in foster care now, and they are getting spayed and neutered. We just want to make sure they’re healthy. Once they pick up weight and get vetted, they will either go to a rescue organization or be adopted.”
One male dog with malformed front legs had been dubbed “Crip” by the previous owner. He now has a new name, “Cricket.”
Cricket will be sent to the Faith’s Hope rescue organization in Pennsylvania, Nisbet said.
“They have a lot of veterinarians up there who donate their time, and they have more resources,” she said. The rescue organization also works to find wheelchairs and other aids for dogs with Cricket’s needs.
Animals keep arriving at the shelter. This week, five new litters of puppies arrived, Nisbet said.
The Mercer County Commission is currently drafting a countywide spay and neuter law as well as a viscous dog ordinance for dogs that attack both people and other animals, said Commissioner Jay Mills.
The commissioners hope to have a draft ordinance ready for the commission’s regular meeting in November.
Local News
October 19, 2011
Shelter official: Hoarded animals on the road to being adopted
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