JACKSON, Wyo. — On July 12, the Animal Adoption Center (AAC) in Jackson put out a notice that local shelters and rescues are full, and they’re calling on the community to help adopt, foster and spread the word.
According to the AAC, the rescue received more than six calls in a 24 hour period this week from other shelters and rescues looking for alternative places to house dogs. Jenna Martin, advancement director with the AAC, said calls mostly came from the Wyoming region that includes Pinedale, Lander, Riverton and Green River, but they’ve also received national outreach from as far as Florida.
From the AAC’s viewpoint, Martin says it seems like a lot of people adopted dogs during Covid through big shelters, Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace that weren’t spaying or neutering dogs or providing adopters with resources for raising, socializing or training them. Dogs are now being surrendered back into shelters and rescues.
The AAC is dedicated to providing adopters with full vaccinations and resources for training and more. The rescue is foster-based, meaning that all 38 dogs currently with the AAC are getting out to hike on Cache Creek or socialize with other dogs instead of sitting in a cement kennel.
However, even without a brick-and-mortar building limitation for space, the AAC is still having to turn down all current requests.
“We’re truly using every single person available.”
Jenna Martin, advancement director with the AAC
“We’re truly using every single person available,” Martin told Buckrail, which includes local fosters and the Puppy Palace at Aska’s Animals Foundation.
If a community member isn’t able to adopt a dog, “fostering is invaluable to us,” Martin says. Fostering not only helps the dog coming to the AAC, but it also saves the life of another dog who can now be accepted at the original shelter where a spot has opened up.
For more information, to adopt or foster, contact the AAC at 307-739-1881 or adopt@animaladoptioncenter.org.
