The neglected dogs removed from East Bay Township are one step closer to a bright future.
Animal control seized 164 dogs from a now-condemned home back in January.
After several weeks of care and rehabilitation, the remaining surviving dogs are finally getting ready for adoption.
Some are moving to the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, Charlevoix Humane Society and Ostego County Animal Control.
“Especially with a case like this, of course no one could prepare for the sheer number of animals and the care they needed,” said Cherryland Humane Society Animal Welfare Manager Tia Barbera.
It’s been a long journey, but these pups finally have a light at the end of the tunnel.
“These guys have come a long ways, obviously the outside dogs were dealing with the elements, and so some of these dogs, this is the first time they’ve been inside,” said Grand Traverse County Animal Control Supervisor Jamie Croel. “On the scene, I personally felt we’d seen a change after we got started, that these dogs started coming to us, knowing we were helping them.”
The says the support from the community was overwhelming.
“From just finding locations to put this many animals to, you know, getting all of the supplies that we needed, to every morning coming in and having a core group of volunteers coming in to help us, because it’s obviously something our staff could not do on our own,” said Cherryland Humane Society Executive Director Heidi Yates.
When considering adopting, it’s important to remember the trauma these dogs have been through—and to be patient with them.
“So Miss Gladys here, she’s gotten all of her vaccinations, she did have to go to Bay Area Pet Hospital because of her age and she was so dehydrated they needed to give her some extra care,” said Barbera. “Our hearts hurt for what they’ve endured, but the fact that we are able to provide them the care they need to feel and look better.”
Many people have already asked about
“They’re gonna have a lot to teach them, but they’re gonna be a forever companion for them and they just have to take time and understand what they’re coming from, they can’t necessarily fix their past, but they can rewrite their future,” said Croel.
Former East Bay Township homeowner Ray Feagles will be back in court next week.
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