CAMDEN — P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center has had a wild ride in September, with a nearly overwhelming influx of animals rescued from certain death (see our recent story:P.A.W.S. walloped by discovery of 20 sick barn cats,) but one project they’d been planning for has been fulfilled.

“We regularly bring up animals from high-kill shelters from the south,” said Executive Director Shelly Butler. “But with all of the flooding in Louisiana that has been happening recently, shelters down there are even more crowded than usual.”

Six puppies, (ranging in age from 11 weeks to 7 months) were set to be euthanized when P.A.W.S’ partner rescue organizations and volunteers in Georgia and Texas scooped them up from the county kill-shelters, in some cases on their last day of life.

“These organizations literally pull the dogs off the floor and get them healthy,” Butler said. “They either then find foster homes or adopt them out and we’re the third party down the line. When they cannot find any other no-kill shelters to take them in, then they’ll transport them up in a van to us in Maine.”

Both Butler and Claudia Eekels, director of operations, have probably worked 50-plus-hour weeks this month, with all that’s been going on.

“On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 11, after dealing with the influx of the barn cat colony, I met the volunteer van driver at midnight and got all the dogs comfortably in the kennel,” said Butler. “It’s just what we do.”

The Southern U.S. tends to have an overpopulation of dogs as opposed to the Northern part of the country. According to Southern Roots Rescue, “Despite the low cost spay and neuter programs that are offered to low income families, pet owners do not have their pets altered and this is the major factor in why most southern shelters are consistently overcrowded.” Hundreds of dogs that are strays or surrendered by their owners are placed into shelters on a weekly basis. And when the shelters become overcrowded, the staff often has to make the agonizing decision to give a dog a certain number of days to live before they are forced to euthanize them.

In the last three months, P.A.W.S. has transported in 20 dogs from their rescue partners, San Antonio Pets ALIVE! and Doggie Harmony. In the upcoming months, they also plan to continue helping their partners and plan to transport 10 dogs a month to the shelter.

“These dogs from our partners are just some beautiful, healthy, energetic dogs that need a loving home,” said Butler. “They’re here getting a fresh start.”

Barn Cat Update: To date, through the generosity of the community, P.A.W.S. has raised $9,500 for the medical care of the barn cat kittens and their mothers. All of the cats are responding well to the antibiotics and the staff anticipates all of them to be available for adoption in the next two weeks. (Read about them here: P.A.W.S. walloped by discovery of 20 sick barn cats

“We are so grateful for the compassion and overwhelming generosity from our community,” said Butler. “Not only does it reinforce the true reason we are here — to care for those animals that cannot care for themselves — but it warms our hearts knowing the community supports our mission and cares so deeply for animals in need.”

To learn more about how you can adopt an animal, volunteer or donate, call 236-8702 or visit P.A.W.S. at 123 John St. in Camden.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com