A trip to the local animal shelter is generally predictable: rows of cats and dog kennels, bottles of hand sanitizer and pet toys.
But what about the guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks, roosters and pigs that are lost, seized or surrendered? Where do they go?
In the Historic Triangle, those unique animals join the ranks with the cats and dogs at Heritage Humane Society.
“I think my favorite was the white ducks,” said Kimberly Laska, Heritage Humane Society executive director. “They liked to greet us… but the smell is one part I will never forget.”
On the other hand, shelter Animal and Adoptions Ambassador Jasmine Jutras said her favorite was Barbie the 280-pound black pig that was picked up by animal control.
Jutras said Barbie was more like a dog than a typical pig — one of the reasons she liked her so much.
“She was a trip,” Laska added.
All the animals
As an open admission shelter, Heritage Humane is required to take in all animals from animal control — even barn animals.
That’s why when James City County animal control brought in five pigs, two ducks and seven chickens over the course of 2018, Heritage had to accept them.
“We don’t encourage people to bring barn animals to us,” Laska said. “We only take them from animal control.”
The barn animals required some rearranging and extra supplies, Laska said. The pigs needed their own rooms with some hay — Barbie had a dog bed — while some chickens were kept in cages in the cat holding area. Laska’s favorite pair of ducks had their own room with a kiddie pool over the summer.
When Barbie was admitted at the shelter this fall, she was originally placed in a room that wasn’t set up for her needs, Laska said. The HVAC system at the humane society includes “negative” and “positive” air flows in certain rooms. Sick animals are kept in the negative spaces, and healthy ones in positive spaces.
Barbie was originally kept in a negative air space, but the shelter determined she needed more fresh air, resulting in her transfer down the hallway to the dogs’ indoor play yard.
At more than 200 pounds, the transition took some coaxing. The shelter’s medical director left a trail of apple chunks down the hall and staff set up barricades to keep Barbie on the correct route.
“I’ve never done anything quite like moving that pig,” Laska said. “It was like an animal shelter version of a team building activity.”
Making more room
Heritage Humane Society is working to come up with solutions to make spaces more workable for unique animal populations.
Earlier this month, Oxbow Animal Health awarded a $5,062 grant to Heritage for a “rabbit room,” which will house small exotic animals and have educational materials for outreach and public awareness.
One day, Laska hopes to expand the facility to allow a larger population.
“We want room for growth, but also for changing populations,” Laska said.
