'Tails Wagging' on Rescued Bedford County Dogs

After helping rescue more than 90 dogs at the start of the year, the Bedford County Humane Society has good news, including adoptions and clean bills of health.

During New Year’s Eve, the Pennsylvania State Police alerted the humane society about the dogs. Shelter manager Kathy Ramsey said the way they found them was horrifying.

“You could tell they were neglected,” she said. “They were matted, their skin was so bad. It was all heartbreaking.”

Because the shelter does not have a lot of space, hosting an extra 90 dogs was going to prove challenging. However, it was important to Ramsey that the shelter still did what it could to help.

“We were not going to just leave those poor dogs there,” she said. “They needed to be taken care of.”

Since the society only has space for 44 big dogs and eight puppy kennels, many of the rescues were placed in crates throughout the hallway or kept in the meet-and-greet room.

Immediately after taking the dogs in, Ramsey posted to Facebook about what had occurred. There was going to be a need for assistance.

By posting about the circumstances online, help would arrive the next day.

“There was a huge line on New Year’s alone,” she said. “We probably had about 200 people that came in.”

These individuals acted as volunteers and donors, bringing necessities like dog food or offering to take the dogs on walks. Ramsey said it was incredible to experience.

Even though the crowds did begin to thin out over time, she said the humane society was still receiving help from around 30 to 40 people each day.

“Not only were we getting volunteers from the past, but new ones who are now sticking with us long-term,” she said.

Along with a plethora of volunteers, the humane society was also able to alleviate the overcrowding with help from other shelters.

“Because we were not able to keep all of the dogs with us, we were able to send some to other areas,” Ramsey said.

Some of the locations dogs have been taken in include Centre County Paws, Somerset Humane Society, Action for Animals, Central Humane Society, and Heart of the Earth Sanctuary. Others have even been taken by shelters in New Jersey and New Hampshire.

“It was absolutely wonderful of them all to help us,” she said. “I don’t know what we would have done otherwise. We don’t even have enough staff, so it has been amazing to have this help.”

As of now the Bedford Humane Society still has 11 of the dogs in its own care, but the society still gets updates about the other dogs from the other locations.

“We like to find out their progress,” Ramsey said. “Some have been adopted and others are being fostered at the moment.”

Due to how the dogs were found, all have needed to be checked out by a veterinarian. Ramsey said they are on their last round of examinations.

“There were a lot of skin and teeth issues,” she said. “Many have had to have teeth pulled and their feet were in terrible conditions. We are also getting some treated for heartworm and Lyme disease.”

Due to the high costs of these checkups, Ramsey said monetary donations are highly appreciated.

Aside from their health, Ramsey said one of the biggest issues the dogs were facing was how to act like normal dogs.

“They were not used to being in open areas or even outside,” she said. “They don’t know how to play together, so it has had to take a lot of time.”

However, she said once they get the feeling of being in fresh air, it is easy to see a change in their demeanor.

“Even the ones who had to be carried outside showed a difference,” she said. “Once they touched the grass, you could see their tails begin to wag.”

As with any other dog who enters their building, the Bedford Humane Society has the dogs up for adoption. To make sure that their animals are matched with the right homes, Ramsey says there is a process that has to take place before any adoption.

“Those who are interested have to fill out a form for us to approve before they can even meet the dogs,” she said. “Once they do and we okay it, they can come in and meet the one they saw online or look around if they are not sure who is right for them.”

If the person has any other dogs, they must bring them to the appointment to make sure they will get along.

Those who would like to potentially adopt an animal from the Bedford Humane Society or who are interested in volunteering can contact them at (814) 623-8968.

“We really appreciate having people come by to help walk the dogs and play with them,” Ramsey said. “Not only does it bring them joy, but it gives you the opportunity to know them better.”

As the dogs continue to heal, she and the rest of the shelter thanked the community for everything they have provided.

“Without so much support and enthusiasm, I truly don’t know how we would get by,” she said. “I hope every person who has given their time knows that they made a difference in these animals’ lives.”