CHILTON, Wis. — The Eastshore Humane Association in Chilton is asking for the community’s help after taking in 70 dogs from an animal neglect case.
Local authorities said the home the animals were in was in “deplorable condition.”
Jennifer Schultz has worked at the Eastshore Humane Association for more than four years.
She said this is the biggest undertaking she’s been a part of in that time. She said seeing the community and other animal shelters helping out has made all the difference.
“All the volunteers that have been coming in and taking in laundry to wash for us, because we only have a small washer and dryer and all of the food, I mean, we wouldn’t have this without the people that have been coming out to help us,” said Schultz.
The shelter removed those 70 dogs from a home in Fond du Lac County earlier this month.
Mainly poodle mixes, the dogs are dealing with ear infections, mites, matted fur and some may need amputations.
Schultz said the dogs vary in age from 13 years old to puppies that were just recently born. Due to a pending legal case and the original owner not relinquishing the dogs, the shelter isn’t legally allowed to provide the necessary care they need. Still, Schultz said the dogs are doing much better.
“This is an overwhelming situation for everyone, including the dogs,” said Schultz. “[The dogs are] so appreciative of the love and affection. You start to see their personalities and everything. All the dogs are giving kisses and thanking everybody for actually caring and helping out.”
Animal advocate Akaiye Schmidt has been working at the shelter since April. He said he got into this line of work to help fight for those who do not have a voice. He said many of the volunteers he has worked with are coming every day, for hours at a time.
“We would not be able to facilitate the care that they need without these people coming in from the community,” said Schmidt. “So it means a lot to me. It means a lot to all of us.”
Other shelters in the area stepped up too.
The Neenah Animal Shelter took in 12 dogs and the Fond du Lac Humane Society is now caring for 11, but that means Eastshore still cares for 47 of the dogs. That doesn’t include the other animals that are already at the shelter.
Schmidt said they are prepared for a long legal process with the original owner.
“We’re going to push absolutely as hard as we can to have somebody be accountable for how severe this neglect was,” said Schultz. “We’re hoping that the courts will just kind of work through this quickly so that we can get custody of these animals and do surgeries to get them in homes.”
The dogs are not eligible to be adopted yet because of the pending legal issues. To donate to the shelter, click here. The shelter needs dog and puppy chow, blankets, bowls and monetary donations.