BEAUMONT, Texas — Springtime is especially tough for animal rescues as it's puppy and kitten season but when someone dumps animals at a shelter it makes it worse.
At the Humane Society of Southeast Texas employees and volunteers are tackling more than just an overcrowding problem.
Dogs and cats are regularly being abandoned by pet owners on the front steps of the steps of the humane society.
It brings more problems to the shelter than just overcrowding.
"Abandoning your animal is illegal. Don't do it," said shelter manager Taylor Westphal.
Over the past month the humane society has found abandoned animals left outside of the shelter often he says.
"We've had boxes of kittens left here," Westphal said. "There's been cats in totes, dogs in crates."
One owner even left a note for the workers after abandoning a litter of kittens.
"They kind of stated that, hey, I know this is wrong, but I really don't have any other option," he said.
Since that litter was abandoned, three kittens have died it's still an ongoing issue.
Two Australian Sheppard dogs were dropped off in crates at the shelter.
"Jody and Bodie, Jody was actually adopted yesterday," Westphal said. "Bodie is still here with us."
But another puppy didn't get a happy ending after being dumped.
"There was a dog in a crate two days ago that unfortunately tested positive for parvo."
Sadly, that puppy was euthanized due to its health.
Abandoning an animal is not only illegal, but it leaves the humane society with a larger problem
"We are at capacity," Westphal explains.
When this happens the shelter isn't able to save other animals who are on the "red list." Animals on the red list are the next one to be euthanized.
"A priority for us is to help save an animal who's in immediate danger," Westphal said. "We can work with our local animal controls for their red list."
Westphal encourages pet owners to come to the shelter for help if they need it.
"There's always a better option than just abandoning the animals here by themselves., Westphal explains. "We can at least point you in the right direction. We have a very large resource list. We can help you with supplies."
"Well, that's what we're here for," he says.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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