Two sets of puppies abandoned at shelter

FARMINGTON – While making his rounds late Monday night, Police Officer Darin Gilbert stopped by the Franklin County Animal Shelter and found a dog crate had been left inside one of the shelter’s outdoor dog pens.

Opening the crate he found two puppies staring back at him. Gilbert called Jo Rumley, a shelter worker, who came immediately to bring the young abandoned pups into their new home.

Ten days ago, another two puppies, about the same age at eight to 10 weeks, were simply dropped into one of the shelter’s outdoor pens for the staff to discover the next day.

“We don’t know if they’re from the same litter or not,” Jessie Geis said. Geis, the veteran animal care manager at the shelter has, unfortunately, seen a lot of animals abandoned in her line of work. Last month, during a three-day period, 36 cats were left off by their owners one way or another at the shelter.

This latest abandonment of two sets of puppies, perhaps of bull terrier mix, is not the usual occurrence. One of the first two puppies has been adopted and the other more recent pups will probably be available soon. “Probably,” because the shelter likes to make sure the two weren’t mistakenly taken from the owner and left off so they’ll give the owner a few more days to come forward. It’s an outside chance, Geis admitted, but they still give someone “the benefit of doubt,” she said.

As is the shelter policy, all of the pups have been or will be spayed or neutered. One male pup is ready to be adopted. “He’s wicked affectionate,” Geis said as she got a good pup kiss.

“We can’t say don’t drop off your animals,” Geis said. “Our job is to find good homes.”

The shelter asks that people who feel they can no longer take care of their animals to leave them while the shelter is open. Failing that, Geis stressed it would be extremely helpful if a note is left which tells how many animals are being left off so they know if someone is missing.

Sometimes, on arrival in the morning, a staff member will find a box left with a big hole in the side. Either the abandoned animal or animals escaped through the hole in the box or the coyotes, who frequent the wooded area around the shelter, reached the box first. 

She tells the story of a box of five kittens that were dropped off and, without knowing how were originally left, the search for more had to be conducted.

While it’s not unusual for kitten to be left in April, June, August and sometimes in February, two sets of puppies abandoned with a 10-day period is strange.

“Two years ago puppies were left, but it’s unusual,” Geis said. Anyone interested in adopting a puppy, dog, kitten or cat, can call the shelter at 778-2638, come by when they’re open, Monday through Saturday, 11 to 4:30 p.m. The shelter is located at 550 Industry Road (Rt. 43) in Farmington.