New home, new dog: Humane Society, Lennar team up
For Realtors who think the smell of fresh-baked cookies might help sell a home, the Humane Society of York County has a new suggestion.
“A new home is not complete without a new baby, whether it’s a dog or a cat,” says Mary Beth Knapp, chair of the board for the local Humane Society.
On Saturday, Knapp and several other Humane Society volunteers met prospective home buyers in The Handsmill, a new Lennar Homes community near Lake Wylie.
As people look for a new home Knapp said she hopes families will consider adopting, or fostering, a cat or dog from the group’s animal shelter. The partnership with Lennar is one way the Humane Society of York County is boosting its outreach efforts.
The nonprofit organization recently hired a new director who has put more emphasis on the Humane Society’s fostering option, Knapp said. Last year, the group found homes for nearly 300 dogs and more than 430 cats.
Adoptions are the goal, Knapp said, but the Humane Society is also looking for volunteers to foster pets until adoptive families are found.
Elizabeth Gomez of Fort Mill has taken advantage of the fostering program. First, she took home a 3-week-old kitten from the shelter and waited for the animal to find a permanent family. It was hard to let go, Gomez said.
When she retired from her job with the Army, ending her commute to Columbia for work, Gomez went back to the Humane Society and left with a new friend: Ellie, a 3-year-old pit bull.
When she first visited Ellie at the shelter, the dog was depressed, not playful, and did not have a good appetite. In that state, Gomez said, it was hard for her to get adopted.
After one week at Gomez’s home as a foster pet, Ellie “just changed,” she said.
“Her personality started showing and she started eating like she’d never eaten before. She slept like she’d never slept before. It was really adorable.”
Gomez says she’d like to adopt Ellie and she has grown more attached to Ellie than she thought she would.
Her husband has a 3-year-old son who Ellie gets nervous around. If the Humane Society can find a home that is a better fit for Ellie, Gomez said, she’ll miss her, but she’ll be happy she’s placed in a good home.
Jerry Brown, with Lennar, said he hopes a permanent home for Ellie or another dog from the Humane Society will be found in the company’s Handsmill Lake Wylie neighborhood. Partnering with the Humane Society, he said, is a great way for Lennar to get involved with the community and create a family-friendly atmosphere.
Brown is the on-site consultant who walked potential buyers through a model home on Saturday. Many people stopped to check out the Humane Society’s booth, but only one adoption happened Saturday afternoon: Brown’s wife convinced him to take home paperwork to adopt a young Dachshund/Jack Russell mix.
Knapp says the Browns’ new puppy has three siblings at the shelter and two are still available for adoption. There are currently about 50 dogs and 120 cats up for adoption at the Humane Society.
Anna Douglas: 803-329-4068, @ADouglasHerald
Want to help?
To donate to the Humane Society of York County, visit the group’s website or mail checks to 8177 Regent Parkway, Fort Mill, S.C. 29715. The organization also needs various pet and office supplies such as cat litter, toys, newspapers, garbage bags, unscented laundry detergent, and blankets. A full list of supplies needed is available online.
To volunteer, complete the volunteer interest form online.
Shop or give to the PAWSibilities Thrift Shop to support the Humane Society.
To adopt or foster, including barn cat placements, call ahead or visit the shelter at the following times: Tuesdays and Fridays, from 1 to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, from 1 to 4 p.m.
For more information, call 803-802-0902. The Humane Society of York County is a nonprofit organization, not supported by the Humane Society of the United States. Donations are tax deductible.
This story was originally published August 1, 2015 at 8:28 PM with the headline "New home, new dog: Humane Society, Lennar team up."