Rescued pets are finding homes
Published: September 3, 2003
The phone rang persistently and visitors poured into Delaware Humane Association’s Wilmington shelter Tuesday to offer homes to some of more than 100 pets retrieved from a Milltown home last week.
“It’s crazy,” said staff member Ruth Stoltzfus. “We’re overwhelmed.”
Nikki Whittington of Stanton was among the many who filed adoption applications Tuesday. Snuggling one little dog, she said, “I wish I had a farm. I’d love to adopt them all.”
Whittington said the animals’ plight touched her heart. “When I read about it, I cried,” she said.
Humane Association staff and volunteers worked through the weekend to handle the 48 dogs and 55 cats that shelter officials said Mary and Carolyn Martin of Meadowood surrendered Friday out of fear their home would be condemned for health violations.
County inspectors, who were unable to inspect their home Friday after a neighbor’s complaint of a foul odor, are scheduled to return Thursday, said Vincent Kowal, spokesman for the Department of Land Use.
A New Jersey adoption program took many of the pets, leaving 15 dogs and 35 cats with the Delaware Humane Association, kennel supervisor Ken Wooldridge said.
Dr. Craig Wooters gave some of them overdue inoculations and neutered the male cats Tuesday.
All the animals were in basic good health but lacked vaccinations, and some were treated for fleas or fungal infections, Wooldridge said.
Before visiting hours ended Tuesday night, adoption applications had been filed for all the remaining dogs.
“But none of the cats,” said staff member Angela Gentner. “It breaks my heart that these poor guys have been through so much.”
The twin sisters also gave the shelter nine parakeets Sunday. Humane Association volunteer Gail Gallagher, who is providing them foster care, said, “They all seem to be very healthy and trainable if you get them young like this.”
One of the volunteers who helped take care of the dogs said Tuesday that she hopes to adopt two of them.
Ruth Danes, who is providing foster care for two small poodles, said she bonded with them as she cut big chunks of matted fur from their coats and housed them over the weekend.
“They love me and I love them,” she said. “We just took to each other.”
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