Finding the “forever” home for cats and dogs in Flagler County is the mission of the Flagler Humane Society based in Palm Coast. As of the writing of this article, the FHS also had a pot-belly pig and numerous rabbits in shelter waiting to be adopted.
Aside from facilitating adoption services, the FHS contracts with Flagler County, the city of Bunnell and with Flagler Beach to provide what its website describes as “kinder, gentler” animal control services including investigation of animal abuse and neglect along with emergency services for injured or sick animals.
The animal control section of FHS provides dog houses, collars, transportation services for pets to receive veterinary care and basic veterinary care in the field. If the owner/human companion of an lost animals can be identified quickly, animal control officers return the animal to its home rather than to the shelter, according to the FHS website.
Other services provided by the FHS include vaccination and wellness clinics offering a variety of the basic vaccinations recommended for canines and felines as well as deworming and heartworm services and microchipping. Clinics are held each Saturday from 1 to 3 PM.No appointment is necessary.
In an effort to reduce pet overpopulation and fewer animals needing shelter services, the FHS also offers low-cost spay and neuter services. According to the FHS website, there are other health benefits for animals that are spayed or neutered. It helps prevent uterine infection and mammary tumors – the latter of which are malignant or cancerous in 50 and 90 percent of dogs and cats, respectively.
The Furry Friend Food Bank at FHS provides qualified county residents with temporary assistance to feed their animals. Applicants with a total household income of $25,000 or less who are the human companions of animals that are spayed or neutered and current on vaccinations are encouraged to participate in the program.
The FHS facility also provides various retail products including heartworm and flea prevention, identification tags, lupine leashes and collars as well as prescription pet food. Gently used items such as beds, leashes and collars and food and water bowls are also available for purchase. FHS is supported by private donations and proceeds from its thrift store. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. FHS continually seeks volunteers. A list of opportunities is available on its website. Call (386) 445-1814 for more FHS information. The shelter is located at 1 Shelter Drive in Palm Coast. The thrift store is located at 480 Palm Coast Parkway SW also in Palm Coast. The FHS website is: www.flaglerhumanesociety.org.
