KING WILLIAM — The Regional Animal Shelter in King William County is urging hunters not to abandon their dogs at the end of the deer hunting season after getting an influx of hounds.
The shelter — which houses stray animals from King William and King and Queen counties — recently appealed to hunters to reclaim their dogs after taking in five hounds in three days.
“We expect many more to follow,” a Jan. 7 post on the shelter’s Facebook page stated. “Right now, 19 of the 23 dogs in our care are hounds or hound mixes. Each one represents a life, suddenly with no place to belong.”
General firearms season in King William and King and Queen counties ended on Jan. 3. Three more hounds were taken to the shelter this past weekend.
“Hunting with dogs has been a part of this community for generations,” the shelter said in the post. “Along with that tradition comes a deep responsibility to the dogs who make it possible, dogs who are bred, trained, loyal and eager to work beside the people. As deer hunting season comes to an end, we once again see a familiar and heartbreaking pattern.”
Shelter management say their building is not an optimal environment for hunting dogs, who find being constrained “confusing and stressful.”
“Shelters are not where these dogs thrive. They were meant to run, work, rest at someone’s feet, and be part of a pack.”
The Regional Animal Shelter is urging hunters to reclaim their dogs. Shelter Director Alyssa Ellison later pointed out, in response to a lively community debate on social media, that the shelter’s Facebook post was not intended to be an attack on the hunting community.
“This post was not meant to condemn hunting hounds or the hunting community,” Ellison wrote. “We understand that hunting with dogs is a longstanding tradition in this region, and many hunters care deeply for and responsibly manage their dogs. We recognize and respect that. Our intent was — and remains — to ask for help, not assign blame.”
She appealed for a partnership with the hunting community and asked anyone who “would like to be a part of the solution” to visit kwc.gov/155/Animal-Shelter.
“The shelter will always show up for these dogs,” she said. “That will not change. But lasting change only happens when everyone who benefits from these animals helps take responsibility for them.”
Owners can reclaim their dogs six days a week: Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The shelter can be reached at 804-769-4983 or by email at animalshelter@kwc.gov.
David Macaulay, Davidmacaulayva@gmail.com
