Animal Protection Society of Durham is announcing changes to our operations during the COVID-19 crisis. The Durham County Animal Shelter will remain open for limited services by appointment only until further notice. APS staff continue to work regular hours to provide high quality care for the animals housed in the shelter during this time. Services may be accessed by appointment only Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM.
Appointments will be scheduled for people needing assistance with animals. We encourage people who have lost an animal to first refer to our found pets page at https://www.apsofdurham.org/found-pets/ and https://24petconnect.com/. We also request of anyone who finds a lost pet to post a photo and a ‘found pet report’ of the found animal on the APS website at www.apsofdurham.org/lost-found/report-a-found-pet/ to give the owner a chance to find the pet. Please call the shelter at 919-560-0640 extension 9 for further assistance. If you have found an injured, sick or aggressive animal please call the Sheriff’s Department dispatch at 919-560-0900.
We are encouraging community pet owners to be diligent about ensuring their pets wear collars and tags at all times. Ensuring pets’ tags contain up-to-date contact information is the best way for pets who have strayed from home to be returned in a timely manner. If your pet is microchipped, we recommend that your contact information has been updated through that service, as well.
APS of Durham will continue to find creative ways to facilitate adoptions during this time. Adoption processes are being adapted to comply with our community ‘stay at home’ request, using available technology such as online video ‘meetings’, online adoption applications and payment, and other creative ways to make a connection between prospective adopters and available animals. Interested adopters can contact staff to make an appointment for meetings at adopt@apsofdurham.org or by calling 919-560-0640 extension 9 during regular business hours.
“We are thrilled by the outpouring of support received from our volunteers and the community in general. During March alone, we have placed more than 220 animals from the shelter into new homes through adoption, fostering, and with partnering animal organizations. We will continue to work in this way for as long as necessary and possible,” says Shafonda Davis, Executive Director. “Affordable food has been challenging to locate recently, and our community has really stepped up to fill the need with donations of food and cat litter being ordered online and delivered to the shelter.” If you would like to donate food and supplies to the shelter, visit our Wish List at www.apsofdurham.org/how-you-can-help/our-wish-list/.
Upcoming fundraising events have been either rescheduled or redesigned as online events. Pints for Paws Craft Beverage Festival has been rescheduled to September 5, 2020. Walk For The Animals fundraising efforts will move forward as an online event, culminating in supporters walking in their own neighborhoods in solidarity on May 23rd, posting their experiences on social media. Registration is currently open and online donations are being accepted. #WalkWithMe2020.
