PERSONNEL FILE: Law firm helps animals at shelter

CHARLESTON -- A Charleston law firm is doing its part to help animals in need of adoption.

The West Law Firm is sponsoring and has paid the adoption fees and initial veterinarian bills for 25 dogs at the Kanawha Charleston Humane Association's shelter that weight more than 30 lbs.

Since late last year, the shelter has adopted a no-kill policy, meaning that only animals that become too sick or aggressive to care for are euthanized.

Since the no-kill policy was announced, however, shelter officials say owner drop-offs have  increased.  That means there are now more animals waiting for adoption than the shelter has room for. And that puts the no-kill policy at risk.

"To help these animals and help the shelter continue its no-kill policy, West Law Firm is sponsoring 25 animals that need adopted most," the firm said in a press release. "We have already paid the adoption fee and initial vet bill.  Now, all these animals need is a loving home."

According to the law firm, the shelter's conference room now doubles as a nursery for a mother and her nine pups.  The shelter director is also sharing her office with another mother and her litter, and many of the staff offices are doubling as kennels for a few more dogs.  That’s in addition to the 130 large, permanent kennels already housing dogs waiting for adoption, and the eight temporary cages used for intakes.

“With big dogs we’re at max capacity right now," said Jordan Roberts, the KCHA rescue coordinator. "We got a few we sent out to rescue (homes) ... but if we keep taking in what we’ve been taking in over the past two weeks, we’re going to have to euthanize.

"And we don’t want to, which is why we’re promoting people to come in and foster or adopt some of our dogs."

And, she said the shelter’s busy season is just getting started.

“Our numbers are going to triple come May, June, July, August," Roberts said. "I don’t even know what to expect. It’s gonna be crazy.

"The reality is we cannot become ‘no kill’ unless the community is no kill. The community needs a mindset that they have got to help us along this journey. We need people to foster, to do rescue, we need people to adopt.

"And bringing your animal into the shelter, I understand sometimes there isn’t any other choice, but it ought to be your last resort.”