Omaha shelter takes an active role in saving animals from bad situations (YOU too can help!)
By Jon Dunn, Best Friends StaffAs an open entry shelter, the Nebraska Humane Society will take any animal that comes their way. For the animals, that of course is a good thing, but irresponsible humans can make for some tough days for the staff.
“We would like to save all the animals we can,” explained Judy Varner, President and CEO of the Nebraska Humane Society. In recent months, the organization has rescued over 200 dogs from 2 different cruelty situations. While they are more than happy to do anything they can in urgent situations, it is no small task. “These types of rescues put a huge strain on our resources,” Judy said.
It is busy days for sure at the NHS. As workers were in the midst of a rescue of 49 animals from Western Iowa, the investigator back in Omaha was calling Varner to alert them to another situation of 60 animals that needed care.
“On any given day we can take in 100 animals,” said Varner. She says the continuing rescues, plus just regular animal control and owner turn-ins keep them consistently full.
Special Foster Homes Needed (Be a Hero—foster a pet!)“What we need help with is fostering,” said Varner. She says community response is good when a crisis breaks out, but people need to remember that many of the animals are far from your normal loveable puppy. “Sometimes all they need is a change of environment, some of them just need someone to have a big heart and patience.”
Varner hopes the community can step up and offer space in their homes for these animals with special needs. The need never goes away, in fact it grows by the hour as more of the tough cases come in.
“Please take a look at our website, look at these special needs dogs. We need people to help us help the dogs that need the special care.”
Click here to learn more about some very special animals at Nebraska Humane Society.Nebraska Humane Society8929 Fort Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68134
Email: nhs@nehumanesociety.org
Call Us: (402) 444-7800
Fax us: (402) 546-1476
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Pictured: Sydney before, and in her foster home.==============================================
How you can get involved with special animals in Nebraska:Click here to learn about NHS’ Foster Program: Help a dog rescued from a puppy mill learn what real life is like, take care of a litter of kittens or puppies, help socialize a shy dog. Fostering is extremely rewarding and helps shelters save more lives!
Click here to learn about FETCH: Friends Educating and Teaching Canines for Homes is a program that matches trainers with shelter dogs. Well-behaved dogs find homes faster—maybe you can be the one to help a dog learn how to “sit” “stay” (and find a great home!)
Click the links below to read about Nebraska Humane Society’s Recent Rescues:August 2007: 49 animals rescued from a cruelty case in Iowa.
May 2007:Nebraska Humane’s largest rescue—over 140 dogs rescued from a puppy mill/hoarder