SHOHOLA TOWNSHIP -- An animal shelter in the Poconos may be on the verge of closing if help does not come soon. The Pike County Humane Society is low on money.
After nearly 20 years, the place has fallen on financial hard times and may only have a couple of weeks before having to shut down, said director Barry Heim. At this point, the shelter has stopped taking in animals.
"It's not only Pike County going to be affected. It's going to be the whole surrounding area, and it's not fair," he said.
Heim explained how the need to help more and more animals has grown in recent years. But the help from the county as well as from nearby townships and boroughs has not been enough.
"Right now we can't take any more animals now. Right now, odds are we're going to have to close."
Employees at the humane society said if the facility has to close, they're concerned all the cats and dogs will have to go to another shelter, where the euthanasia rate is different and many of the animals may need to be put down.
"It's heartbreaking. [There's] always going to be another animal looking for safe haven and we provide that for them," said employee Heather Tringo.
The lives of some 80 dogs and 70 or so cats now hang in the balance as the humane society appeals for help.
"If it's in your budget to spare the latte and send it our way," said Tringo.
"Unless people really truly understand and step up, we're done," added Heim.
Heim said the humane society's board will decide what to do with the animals if the donations needed don't come in within two weeks.