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Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter volunteer Cheyenne Chapman watches over shelter dog Jeffery.
Six-year-old mixed breed Harris was taken in to Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter as a stray in June.
Lucas and Harris are two of more than 125 dogs in the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter.
Three-year-old mixed Dalmatian Lucas was taken in to the Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter as a stray in July.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ The Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter is experiencing an excess amount of dogs and cats searching for new homes, Executive Director Courtney Proctor Cross said.
ƵPeople just keep coming in with dogs,Ƶ Cross said.
According to Cross, the capacity at which dogs and puppies are comfortable is set around 75, and the current number of canines the shelter has is around 125.
The shelter recently built 24 new outside kennels with the hope to give housing and space for dogs outdoors during the day and come back into the shelter during the night.
Still, intake at the shelter has risen, causing spots at both the inside and outside facilities to be overfilled.
ƵDogs get turned in here for any number of reasons,Ƶ Cross said, adding the shelterƵs dog and cat intake can be attributed to anything from owners being taken to the hospital, getting arrested or dying. Stray dogs are also a significant factor.
To help with the overcrowding, the shelter has been seeking volunteers to help walk dogs daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
ƵThe dogs love the extra attention and time out of their cages and runs,Ƶ the shelter wrote in a Facebook post.
Volunteers must complete and sign a waiver before being permitted to walk dogs.
ƵCats and kittens are moving more quickly than dogs and puppies,Ƶ Cross said. ƵWe have double the number of cats right now that we can comfortably house.Ƶ
The spike in shelter cats and kittens has made routine care and responsibilities for these pets to be stretched, as the shelter hosts only one dedicated caregiver for cats and kittens.
ƵThat is way too much for that person to care for,Ƶ Cross said. ƵOther people who have other jobs to do have taken care of them.Ƶ
Some of the recent renovations to the shelter building were aimed at becoming dedicated areas for cat and kitten care.
ƵA lot of people have been adopting specialty breeds lately,Ƶ Cross said. ƵThe effect of that has been felt by shelters nationwide.Ƶ
Cross suggested a solution for excess dogs and cats involving owners spaying and neutering their pets or visiting a local shelter when looking for a new pet.
Pets are spayed, neutered and treated with dewormer, flea and tick prevention, both distemper parvo, bordetella and rabies vaccines upon adoption.
The Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter is located on 1901 James River Road and is open Monday through Saturday from noon-4 p.m., while hours on Tuesday are extended until 7 p.m.
Volunteer hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can come in and meet the animals from 12-3 p.m.
More information, including local laws and regulations, can be found on the shelter website at or by calling at 304-696-5551.
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