Animal Rescue League in Berks in critical need of shelter and support after 51 dogs and cats seized [Update]

Steven Henshaw, Reading Eagle, Pa.
Updated ·2 min read

May 23—The Animal Rescue League of Berks County is in critical need of community support — foster homes for animals, volunteer labor and donations for medical care — after the seizure of dozens of dogs and cats, many of them sick and injured, from a residence.

The ARL put out a plea for help via social media on Wednesday afternoon while workers removed 31 dogs and puppies and 20 cats and kittens from a home in Bern Township. The seizure came after ARL humane police officers served a search warrant on the residence to investigate a report of a single injured animal and discovered many others in poor health, officials said.

To make room for some of the seized animals, Brandywine SPCA in Chester County took 15 cats to their shelter earlier Wednesday.

Of the seized dogs, 12 were transferred to the custody of the Pennsylvania SPCA and eight were transferred to Zoe's House, a dog rescue in Sinking Spring that provides foster care and adoption services, ARL spokesman Jose Joel Delgado-Rivera said.

Eleven of the dogs remain under the care of ARL, including one with a broken leg that underwent surgery at the shelter.

Sixteen cats were transferred to small animal care and adoption services.

All of the animals were of decent weight, Delgado-Rivera said. However, they were covered in fecal matter and urine and showed staining and skin conditions from begin in unsanitary conditions for a long time.

Some dogs had scarring from bites, and all cats showed signs of upper respiratory infection.

Humane officers are preparing charges against the property owner, Delgado-Rivera said.

The influx of the seized dogs and cats brought the ARL shelter along Route 724 in Cumru Township to full capacity, taxing an already short staff, officials said.

Those willing to open their homes to animals in need may contact foster@berksarl.org

Volunteers are needed.

"If you have time in your day to assist with laundry, cleaning, food preparation, or any other support task for the next week," a post on the ARL Facebook page stated, "please reach out to Jen Raney at volunteer@berksarl.org."

Donations are also needed to help ARL offset the cost of medical care as well as standard care of food and housing resources, officials said. You can donate at berksarl.org/berksdonates/ or contact Alison Kleinsmith at akleinsmith@berksarl.org