FINDLAY, Ohio — With the holiday season in the rearview mirror, many animals looking for a forever home may have to wait a bit longer.
Shelters in Hancock County try to get animals that have been there for a while out of the kennel and into a new family.
Paula Krugh, the executive director of the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County, said there were a lot of happy adoptions at the end of 2022.
But, kennels are still occupied and some of the potential pets have been at the shelter for a long time.
Many of them need training, extra care and even have medical conditions that could hinder adoption.
But Krugh said the right fit for these animals is out there, it just takes a bit more effort to find it.
"Somebody who truly loves animals, these animals need your love," Krugh said. "So, you need to come in and visit them, meet with them and see what will fit with your family to give them that forever home."
Luckily, the shelter offers a flexible way to introduce an adopted animal into a new home.
"When people come into adopt and they aren't sure it's a perfect fit, we do a trial adoption of two weeks to start getting them acclimated."
Krugh said her office is also currently short-staffed and is struggling to fill positions.
There's a particular need for male workers and volunteers, as kenneled dogs tend to have a more difficult time acclimating to adult men.
Archer Greeno has been working at the shelter for about a year and says if you're an animal lover of any kind, the job is fulfilling and full of personal rewards.
"It always feels really great when dogs get adopted," Greeno said. "Especially when you put a lot of effort into having them be social and having them come out of their shell."
The Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County will be hosting an open house to show off some recent facility upgrades on Feb. 25 during their annual meeting.