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You may remember seeing WFMZ coverage of Franki and Diva, who finally found their forever homes after staying at LVHS for over 300 days. At the end of the segment, we asked our community to adopt a dog who had been here for even longer. Having spent well over a year at LVHS, Dakota was desperately waiting for her forever home.
We are thrilled to report that Dakota was adopted by a lovely family after a whopping 507 days at LVHS! But while we celebrate these long-awaited adoptions, we know they won’t be the last dogs to spend hundreds of days in our care.
Imagine living in a kennel for over a year, watching people pass you by day after day. With so few people willing to foster large dogs (only 15 large dogs were fostered in 2024, although we took in 1,500 dogs total), it is hard to keep them healthy and happy while we wait for someone to adopt them. Being in a shelter for a long time takes a toll on a dog’s mind and body. Animals that spend a long time in shelters can frequently become sick, which requires veterinary time and costly medications.
Lengthy shelter stays also affect staff, volunteers, and our organization’s sustainability. Every day, we dedicate staff time, food and supplies, and medical treatments to animals in need, but it is difficult to quantify individual care costs. Some are here for a few hours before their owners reclaim them. Others stay for 12 months or more. Some are severely injured or chronically ill and may need intensive treatment for weeks.
In Dakota’s case, it cost over $10,000 to care for and house her for 507 days. Multiply this by any number of large dogs staying at LVHS long-term each year, and the challenge becomes clear.
Pouring love and resources into these undervalued and misunderstood dogs would not be possible without support from folks like you. Thank you from Dakota, Diva, Franki, and many more dogs who finally got their second chance!
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Lehigh Valley Humane Society is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN# 23-1365372. Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
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