MILFORD, PA — The many abandoned animals in the area at the Pike County Humane Society once more face the threat of losing their shelter. It’s in danger of having to close, unless enough money can be raised by the end of the month to pay the bills, and no new animals are being accepted at this time. Barry Heim, the center’s director, said at the pet adoption drive in Milford’s Community House grounds next to Chant Realty, that it costs close to $28,000 a month to run the shelter. The money goes to take care of the animals, to help pay for food, medical costs, shots and upkeep of the grounds. Most helpers are volunteers, and they were at an adoption event on May 23 and 24, taking care of the cats, walking the dogs and collecting donations from the drivers passing by on busy East Harford Street.

On the second day of the two-day event, Newton, a volunteer said the drive raised $1,700 the previous day, and six adoptions took place—four dogs and two cats.

On Sunday, cats and dogs were on display in separate pet containers, and well-behaved animals wowed those who came to look for pets.

A volunteer named Vanessa talked about the heart-tugging adoptions that sometimes take place. “I had a white lapdog that I was holding at the end of an adoption day, we were just about to close, and no one had adopted this dog. But just then a mentally and physically disabled girl came in a wheelchair with her mom. I placed the dog in the girl’s lap, and both were happy. They adopted the dog, and later phoned to tell me how happy they were with the dog, because she sat in the girl’s lap all the time, because that’s what she liked to do, and it also helped the girl enormously. The right pet will come at the right time. It just happens,” she concluded.

Bill Yennie from Matamoras came to visit the event with Cookie, a shepherd spaniel mix he adopted the previous day. “I’m very happy with her,” he beamed, then told a story. “She ran away last night, and the whole animal shelter crew came to help find her. She ran to the river bank, and is now calm and happy.”

Heather Tringo, who is a staff member at the shelter, said, “We have a special program called Grey Muzzle for special- needs dogs, and dogs that are eight years or older. It’s ‘permanent foster.’”

The Pike County Humane Society’s web page lists the following pet adoption days: June 6 and 7, pet adoption at Walmart in Milford; June 13, Poker Run (tentative); June 20, pet adoption at Country Kettle on Route 209 in Marshalls Creek; June 27, pet adoption at Apple Valley in Milford; June 28, pet adoption at Tractor Supply on Routes 6/209 in Milford; July 4 and 5, pet adoption at Walmart in East Stroudsburg; July 18 and 19, pet adoption at Country Kettle on Route 209 in Marshalls Creek.

The shelter is located at 186 Lee Rd., Shohola, PA 18458, or call 570/296-7654. Donations are accepted at www.pikecountyhumanesociety.com.