After months without an animal shelter, Monroe County could soon have a place to send its strays.
Since the Pennsylvania SPCA suddenly shut down its Monroe County shelter in January, the county has struggled with stray animals.
Rescue groups tried to pick up the slack but without a licensed facility, police have no place to drop off displaced animals.
That could change, thanks to a group called AWSOM.
"There's no legal place for police officers or humane officers or the dog warden to take stray dogs," explained Samantha Holbert, AWSOM project manager.
She and Bruce Barton are the founding members of the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County, or AWSOM. It's a newly formed non-profit aiming to get a shelter back into Monroe County as soon as possible.
"We all have the same goal which is helping the animals and providing a place for them to go," Holbert said.
AWSOM said its first order of business is finding a place to call home, possibly the old shelter in Stroud Township. It is currently for sale.
Members said they have been in talks with the Pennsylvania SPCA but there is no decision yet whether the group would have to buy or be given the property.
Money to buy, AWSOM said, would have to come from public donations.
"Help us get a shelter open whether it is this shelter gets reopened or another shelter. We have to have a shelter," Barton said.
The Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County is also looking for potential board members.
Since the Pennsylvania SPCA suddenly shut down its Monroe County shelter in January, the county has struggled with stray animals.
Rescue groups tried to pick up the slack but without a licensed facility, police have no place to drop off displaced animals.
That could change, thanks to a group called AWSOM.
"There's no legal place for police officers or humane officers or the dog warden to take stray dogs," explained Samantha Holbert, AWSOM project manager.
She and Bruce Barton are the founding members of the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County, or AWSOM. It's a newly formed non-profit aiming to get a shelter back into Monroe County as soon as possible.
"We all have the same goal which is helping the animals and providing a place for them to go," Holbert said.
AWSOM said its first order of business is finding a place to call home, possibly the old shelter in Stroud Township. It is currently for sale.
Members said they have been in talks with the Pennsylvania SPCA but there is no decision yet whether the group would have to buy or be given the property.
Money to buy, AWSOM said, would have to come from public donations.
"Help us get a shelter open whether it is this shelter gets reopened or another shelter. We have to have a shelter," Barton said.
The Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County is also looking for potential board members.
