A disturbing trend is happening across the nation in animal welfare and Brown County is not immune. The Brown County Humane Society is approaching crisis level and we need your help. In a single day, we received requests to take in four dogs. The kennels are approaching capacity. We do not have four open dog kennels in our building. And, every day the requests just keep coming. We need your help today.

Here’s what we need:

1. Adopt or foster a dog currently in the shelter. All the dogs in our care are available for adoption, foster, or our Foster to Family program. Stop by the shelter to meet them and learn more about who may be a great fit for your family. Even if just temporary, fostering a dog can save a life.

Learn more and apply to be a foster by visiting www.bchumane.org/fostering/

2. If you need to rehome a pet, consider doing so privately instead of bringing your pet to the shelter. We can offer resources and suggestions for rehoming your pet safely. Give us a call at 812-988-7362. We will gladly partner with you to make sure your pet goes to a safe and loving family.

3. If you find a stray pet, hold on to it for a few days to see if you can find the owner. This helps us out and keeps the animal from going through the stress of coming to the shelter.

Here is something to think about. According to a recent study, 70 percent of stray dogs were found less than one mile from their homes. Forty-two percent were less than 400 feet from their homes. If you find a lost pet, here are some suggestions to help locate his home:

Use social media to locate the owner. Post found animals (with photos) in your local Nextdoor groups, Facebook groups or any other local pages you can think of. The facebook group “Critters of Brown County Indiana” is active here.

Call the shelter to report the found animal. (812) 988-7362

Have the pet checked for a microchip at a veterinary office or animal shelter

Create brightly colored flyers and hang in the area near where they pet was found

Show the flyers to your delivery people and ask if they know where the pet belongs

Drive around the area the dog was found and check with the homeowners there

Remember — we live in a rural community, so don’t just think about homes nearby via roads, a dog can easily trek through wooded areas and be found a road or two from their own.

If you are not able to open your home to a new pet, helping spread the word about our need can play a huge part in saving a homeless pet’s life. Sharing our posts on social media (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) can help even more people see the animals looking for their new home. A simple click can be all the difference in a dog’s life.