“It’s heartbreaking”; Paws 4 the Cause in need of foster families

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Paws 4 the Cause says it has seen an increase in animals being abandoned or surrendered over the past couple of years and the past six months have been even more challenging, according to the group.

“It’s heartbreaking,” says Anita Spreitzer. “A lot of days I wake up and I feel defeated.”

She says they have been getting calls every day from rural shelters that are full and begging for help because they don’t want to put the animals down.

She says they are trying to help as much as they can, but every single week they are at capacity. “No matter how many we move out, there’s a list that has to come in.”

Spreitzer says in her 45 years at the organization this is the worst she has ever seen it. She adds in Lexington, they are seeing more surrenders which is unheard of.

“Scott county is also reporting a very high number of dogs being abandoned. Boxes of puppies being left on the side of the road, people throwing puppies in rural area shelters over the fences.”

She says since rural shelters are so full, they are allowing animals to be adopted without being spayed or neutered. Which is why she says she’s spoken with State Senator Reginald Thomas about legislation requiring animals to be fixed before being adopted out.

According to Spreitzer, their average of adoptions in a year is around a 1,000 and they’ve hit more than that already.

She adds they are in desperate need of foster families in the Lexington and Georgetown areas.

“A foster family is the lifeline to what we do here. And I always tell a foster, especially a new foster that steps up, that when they take a dog, they’re saving two lives.”

She says if you aren’t able to foster, you can volunteer with them, take a dog out for the day or donate supplies or money.

For more information on how to contact Paws 4 the Cause, click HERE.