Nearly a dozen dogs were found running loose in traffic at a Charleston, South Carolina intersection and were expected to arrive on Tuesday.
SALEM, MA — Nearly a dozen Chihuahua-Dachshund mixes found running in traffic at a South Carolina intersection after a suspected abandonment were set to arrive in Salem on Tuesday in hopes of finding their forever homes.
The Northeast Animal Shelter will welcome the dogs between the ages of 2 and 5 that were among 17 caught by Berkley County Animal Control officers late last month. Another small dog was found dead nearby and believed to have been hit by a car, MSPCA officials said.
The MSPCA said veterinarians at the South Carolina shelter examined the dogs and found them to be underweight with long toenails and fleas. Some also had skin disease and hair loss.
With the Charleston Animal Society already at capacity, the MSPCA agreed to take up to 12 of the dogs north to New England where they might have a better chance of being adopted.
"We have an existing transport relationship with Charleston (Animal Society), so they knew immediately that they could reach out to us when they took in so many dogs unexpectedly," said Josie Waldron, animal relocation manager at the Northeast Animal Shelter. "Our capacity has also been tight recently, though, and the space we cleared from our successful dog adoption event has already been filled due to the continuing increase in surrenders, as well as animals coming in through Law Enforcement cases.
"But when a partner like Charleston reaches out with a great need, we do whatever we can to help."
Waldron said shelters "absolutely need adopters to come and take some of the dogs in our came home so we can continue to be here for people an pets who need us."
The Chihuahua-Dachshunds are scheduled to arrive in Salem on Tuesday, along with six other dogs in a ground transport coordinated with the SaveDog Project.
"We know that these dogs have been through a lot, so we're excited to welcome them into our care," said Waldron. "We hope to quickly get them any medical treatment that they'll need and assess what kind of homes would be best for them, which would ultimately allow us to place them with great new families shortly after they get here."
The dogs are described as shy, but apparently friendly. They will be spayed and neutered before being offered for adoption after a 48-hour quarantine.
Charleston staff described the dogs as shy, but noted that some appear to be friendly.
Those interested in adopting the dogs, or making a donation to offset the cost of their care, can go here or visit the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem.
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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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