PIERCETON — The Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County will be closing its doors to the public as of Wednesday, March 18. The closure is in response to the situation regarding COVID-19, or the coronavirus. Only essential staff and approved volunteers that have been trained will be permitted to enter the shelter building.

According to a statement on the AWL Facebook page, the shelter will be allowing those interested in adopting an animal to come visit by appointment only. Staff also asks owners needing to surrender pets to hold them for at least four weeks. If it is an emergency, contact the shelter to schedule an appointed time to drop off a pet. Those that find friendly strays are asked to consider fostering the animal until the shelter reopens its doors, as these could also be pets that are missing from their homes. Check lost and found pages and call the shelter to file a found report. AWL staff can provide for basic needs such as food, blankets and minor treatments.

The shelter is also in great need of medical fosters, as the shelter is nearing capacity. Fosters are needed for pets that require extra attention, are recovering form illnesses/injuries, and young animals with lowered immune systems. Sign up to be a foster via the AWL Facebook page or call the shelter and ask for Ashley or Sally.

“I have been in contact with other shelters in our state and it has been noticed that intake of animals is increasing and outcomes such as adoptions and reclaims are slowing,” said Sally Scott, AWL executive director, in a Facebook statement on the AWL page. “It is a trend that could potentially get worse. Overcrowding of a shelter brings the risk of disease to healthy pets and stress and burn out to an overworked staff. Anything we can do to help each other in this difficult time is essential. We  have had to cancel some of our events and will lose critical funding that we rely on to keep our shelter running. Those that can’t adopt or foster are encouraged to donate to the AWL through the website (awlwarsaw.com) or through Amazon Smile.

To contact the Animal Welfare League with questions, call (574) 267-3008 or e-mail [email protected].

Non-emergency dispatch numbers to contact regarding animals are the Warsaw Police Department at (574) 372-9511 and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office at (574) 267-5667.