Debbie Rappuhn, volunteer coordinator for the Florence/Lauderdale County Animal Shelter, said the shelter is in immediate need of foster homes for a sudden influx of dogs.

“We’re trying to move to a no-kill shelter, but we have to start by getting foster homes and people in the community helping us,” Rappuhn said. “And we need foster homes right now.”

Sixty-five dogs were dropped off at the shelter Monday and Tuesday.

“We had a couple of weeks ago where no animals were euthanized, this is a goal the (animal control) staff and volunteers want to pursue, to become a low- or no-kill facility,” said Florence Police Chief Rick Singleton, who oversees animal control. “But this week, with the number of dogs that were left at the shelter, we have got to do something.”

He said the dogs will not have to be euthanized if they find enough foster homes.

“The capacity of the shelter is 30-40 dogs, and with the large number that was dropped off, we’re having to put out a call for help,” Singleton said.

Rappuhun said there are 100 dogs at the shelter.

“We have about 10 foster homes that are willing to take multiple dogs, but I just can’t keep asking them to take more and more,” she said.

Singleton said there are rescue facilities available to take the animals, but the animals have to be out of the shelter for 10-14 days.

Rappuhun said she sends dogs out every two weeks to rescue services all across the nation.

“Last week we sent out 60 dogs,” she said. “We have places to send them to, we just have to have foster homes where we can place them until they can be sent off.”

Singleton said any animals taken into foster homes would be vaccinated, have their pictures taken and their information would be provided to the public to find permanent homes while they are in foster care just as it would be if they were physically located at the shelter.

“If some of the animals are not picked up and placed into foster care within the next few days, we’ll have to start euthanizing them,” Singleton said. “That’s not what we want to do, that’s what we’re trying to stop. It’s a matter of space.”

Rappuhn said anyone interested in providing a foster home can contact her at 256-335-1730 or go to the Florence/Lauderdale County Animal Shelter Facebook page and fill out the form.

Tom Smith can be reached at 256-740-5757 or tom.smith@TimesDaily.com.