New crop of canines arrives at Springfield Humane Society

By Shawn Cunningham
© 2017 Telegraph Publishing LLC

Twenty dogs from Virginia and North Carolina arrived in snowy Springfield on Tuesday night in search of new homes.

The dogs — puppies and adults, males and females — come from shelters that are overflowing, says Springfield Humane Society Executive Director Anne Eddy. “We always take local dogs first, but people up here tend to keep their pets,” says Eddy as she gives a tour of the shelter.

“They euthanize barrels full of puppies” in the South, says Eddy, “and we had spare kennels.” Every so often, a woman in Virginia will make a run up here with a van full of shelter dogs including puppies, says Eddy.

The latest batch of dogs range from four months to 12 years and some have special needs. One Yorkie mix is deaf and going blind and another – named Duke – lost a leg to a trap. Both are otherwise happy, energetic and loving dogs.

The Springfield Humane Society is a non-profit operated by four full-time and one part-time staffers as well as about 20 volunteers. Eddy notes that when the dogs and puppies arrived on Tuesday evening, many volunteers turned out to walk them and get them settled into the shelter.

Eddy says that the Humane Society facility is a  no-kill shelter with the exception of dying animals who are suffering. It has clean, well-lit kennels and spaces for dogs and cats. The kennels are lit partly by sun tubes that provide natural light and there are safe, fenced runs for dogs and cats.

The facility, located a 401 Skitchewaug Trail just north of downtown Springfield, is open from noon to 4:30 p.m.  Wednesday through Saturday.

In addition to the shelter, the Humane Society operates a Wag Sale in the house in front of the kennels, where visitors can buy used household and other items. All proceeds help support the work of the shelter.