The Australian Shepherd mix had been dropped off at the Humane Society of Odessa, tied to the entrance, and left with a blanket, food, toys and a note with all its medical information.
Arriving at the shelter and finding abandoned animals is not uncommon, Director of the Humane Society of Odessa Heather Silvia said, but having a note and medical records is rare. It did not take long before the shepherd found a new family.
“It’s a rare occurrence that he was able to find a home, but it’s probably because of his breed,” Silvia said. “It’s sad, but the truth is a lot of these animals don’t get adopted.”
Located at 2230 W. Sycamore Dr., in West Odessa, the Humane Society is a no-kill animal shelter whose purpose is to provide humane care and treatment for all animals.
As a nonprofit organization, the Humane Society relies on donations to fund its budget. Population fluctuations due to the boom-and-bust cycle of the oilfield, an increase in the prices of basic items, and working with a shelter at full capacity continue to cause issues for staff and volunteers.
Most people who find stray animals will drop them off at the shelter, Silvia said, but it can be hard to take new animals. One of the best things people can do, if safe, is to get those strays in their area spayed and neutered to prevent breeding.
“This is not something that’s going to get fixed overnight,” Silvia said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, but we’ve got to start somewhere because it’s gotten so bad.”
Always accepting donations, monetary help can be made online at the Human Society of Odessa’s website, odessahumanesociety.org. Dry dog food donations are also welcomed, as well as items that can be used for bedding.
Cleaning supplies like bleach, gloves, and paper towels are also needed to clean and help prevent the spread of disease.
Adoptions have also slowed down, and there have been times when animals have been returned.
The organization’s goal is to help find the right match for family and animals while also trying to lessen the number of animals on the street.
“We’ve got to start somewhere because it’s getting so bad,” Silvia said.
