Animal Friends ‘completely overwhelmed’ by admissions

From heat-related emergencies to pet-hoarding calls, Animal Friends staff and humane officers have had a busy summer."Our admissions department has been completely overwhelmed," Animal Friends spokeswoman Jolene Miklas said."We don't euthanize for space, so we're filling our locker room, our offices — anywhere we can — (with animals)."The situation was so overwhelming, the Ohio Township-shelter briefly considered canceling Monday's fifth annual Liberation Day Rescue, which offers a second chance to lost and unclaimed animals who are slated to be euthanized at area animal control facilities, Miklas said.Animal Friends sent out an emergency plea to volunteers "begging for adoptions and for foster homes," Miklas said."Luckily, we had some volunteers come forward," she said.The shelter rescued 29 animals Monday from shelters around the region, Miklas said.Healthy animals were put up for adoption once checked by on-site veterinarians, she said. Animals needing additional medical treatment would be placed for adoption once tests were completed.In addition to neglect calls human officers have responded to, more pets are lost around the Fourth of July than any other time of the year, Miklas said.If a pet goes missing, "so many people don't know you need to call animal control," she said. "You need to start looking immediately or it might be too late."While the shelter has admitted a number of pets, staff members were able to find homes for 57 puppies and kittens at the end of June, Miklas said.She called it a "nice spike in adoptions."