LAKELAND - Homes are desperately needed for more than 15 dogs left behind after their owner passed away last month in the Bellis area, near Smoky Lake.
For the past several weeks, the man’s friend has been caring for the dogs with the assistance of people from near and far who have donated dog food and called him up to provide some encouragement and ideas on how to best handle the situation.
Now, more than anything else, Toby Neuendorf said the dogs needs to be adopted.
“I’ve called around to probably eight or maybe even 10 shelters and rescue agencies and they are all saying the same thing. Two years ago, they just became overwhelmed with dogs and almost nobody is taking dogs,” Neuendorf said Friday. “They are just at their breaking point.”
Following the pandemic, people have surrendered their dogs for many reasons including the lack of time to care for them and, in some circumstance, the inability to afford them, Neuendorf said, which makes his situation that more challenging.
While the dogs are “living like kings” thanks to the food that has been donated, Neuendorf said these animals now need homes. While many of the dogs are larger dogs and include Great Pyrenees, there is also a litter of six puppies.
“There is lots of food, now that people have become aware,” he said. However, while there is some interest from people who have called him in adopting a couple of the dogs, there is not enough interest.
“Farmers and ranchers that have lots of room for dogs to run, especially these dogs that are at home with livestock, and who have food to feed them” are badly needed, Neuendorf said. The litter of puppies that bring him cheer every day with their antics will likely find homes sooner than later he believes, and so it is the adult dogs he’s concerned about.
Anyone who is able to assist in finding or providing a home for the dogs is asked to call Neuendorf at 825-526-3622.