Lyndhurst – One dog who will spend his holidays in a warm, loving home is the Antique.
The Highland County Humane Society founder sent an old photo to Diane McIntyre who often cares for old dogs and breed dogs, then McIntyre reached out to the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center that shelters the dog to give her a temporary home.
“Definitely antique as its name suggests,” McIntyre said. “Old. God only knows her tale but she is very underweight and has some kidney problems and poor eyesight. Dogs like her do not do well in a shelter. Their health problems tend to multiply every day.”
Antique was caught straying, so she had to be held at the shelter for a while to see if the owner came forward.
“Obviously someone didn’t,” said McIntyre. “So she was moved from the stray list to the adoptable list. But face it, no one wants an old wrecked dog. So, I’m going to take her for a few weeks, put some weight on her, groom her, maybe Adopted by my friend Daphne.”
McIntyre said her friend saves old khons, even a nursing home, so maybe Antiques finds a nice place to be. She said that even if her friend couldn’t take Antique, she had a home with McIntyre for as long as necessary.
“I make this promise to my subjects. All of them, legionaries. Some found homes, some were moved, and some died. But they were all loved every day under this roof.”
McIntyre has sponsored Shenandoah Valley Animal Services and care for other groups in Northwest Virginia as well. She said she doesn’t think most people understand how difficult it can be to run a shelter during the holidays.
“If more people come forward to give the shelter animal a break from the noise, confusion and boredom, these animals may have a better chance of finding a new home because they will look better,” McIntyre said. “A happy, relaxed dog is more adoptable than a chronically anxious. Cats are, too.”
She said shelter staff need a break, too. Few animals give them time to enjoy the holidays with their families.
Everyone benefits,” McIntyre said. “Holiday homes for the homeless.”
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Caring for a furry friend in the holidays
Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center is looking for families to sponsor a furry guest for the holidays.
“Our furry friends in SVASC don’t want to spend Thanksgiving alone,” the animal shelter said in a flyer to help get the word out.
The shelter desperately needs incubators without other pets, but its inhabitants change daily, so they have someone for everyone.
Thinking of adoption? The shelter said this is also the perfect time to go for a trial run.
They are looking for families who will be home for the holidays and ready to take care of a dog or cat now until December 3. Email manager Erin Wales at ewiles.svasc@gmail.com to start the process.
They provide supplies (as they are available), the shelter said. “You provide love.”
Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center is the local animal shelter in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County.
An open entry shelter that accommodates all stray, abandoned and surrendered animals, the staff strives to improve the lives of people and pets in our community. They offer community mindset programs such as low-cost spaying/neutering, pet food assistance and pet return services, the site reads. To contact them, call 540-943-5142 or email staff.svasc@gmail.com. The refuge is located at 1001 Mt. Torrey Road in Lyndhurst.
Monique Calello (he/she) is News Leader’s health reporter. You can reach her at mcalello@newsleader.com. Follow on Twitter Tweet embed.
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