Brother Wolf Animal Rescue implements new adoption strategies

Press release from the office of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue:

Brother Wolf Animal Rescue has implemented new adoption protocols to serve animals in need and to keep people safe. The local nonprofit is currently conducting adoptions by appointment and implementing stringent social distancing and sanitation practices.

“We applaud the Governor and state officials for including sheltering facilities as essential businesses so that we can continue to save lives,” said Leah Craig Fieser, Executive Director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue. “While everyone’s daily lives are being impacted by COVID-19, the welfare of animals in our community continues to be critically important. We take our role as being a resource for our community, as well as the safety and welfare of those involved in our work, very seriously.” The organization’s day-to-day operations continue to adjust in response to the community’s evolving needs and public safety.

Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 121, which went into effect on Monday, March 30th, lists “businesses that provide food, shelter, services and other necessities of life for animals, including animal shelters, rescues, shelters, kennels, and adoption facilities” as an essential business and operation.

“We’ve seen great success with adoptions by appointment,” said Fieser who noted that even with the current climate, the organization placed over 100 animals into homes in March and transferred in over 150 animals into their care last month. Adoptions by appointment have been in place since March 25th. “Animals bring joy, love, and laughter into a home. We can all use a little of that right now. And for some families who are home together, it’s a great time to adopt.”

Brother Wolf’s foster homes are also getting creative with adoption strategies including virtual meet-and-greets via phone and video chat, meeting outdoors with ample social distancing, and sharing a pet’s information, photos, and videos via phone and email prior to the adopter meeting the pet in person. The organization currently has over 100 animals in foster homes and expects that number to continue to climb over the next several weeks as the need for assistance grows.

Brother Wolf has also stepped up to help other area shelters, some of which have closed their doors temporarily, by taking in many of those dogs and cats and finding them homes or foster placement. “As animal rescue professionals, our job right now is to serve as many animals as possible through creative and adaptive programming that saves animals’ lives and keeps people safe.” said Fieser.

Community members are urged to visit www.bwar.org/adopt to view all adoptable animals. There you can fill out an application and an adoption counselor will be in touch to set up an appointment for you to meet the animal.

Updates about Brother Wolf’s operations in relation to COVID-19 can be found on their website at www.bwar.org/covid-19-response-and-updates/. Brother Wolf’s thrift store, retail store, and mobile spay and neuter clinic have temporarily closed to the public due to the Shelter-In-Place ordinance. Sanitation protocols have been put in place for the health and well-being of the animals, shelter staff, and the community and include limiting staff numbers in the building, public visits by appointment only, disinfecting surfaces every two hours, social distancing barriers, and bathing each new dog that enters the facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that there is no evidence that companion animals can spread COVID-19.

If you are unable to adopt at this time, Brother Wolf encourages people to help in the following ways:

1. Donations of critical pet care supplies. You can have items mailed directly to the Brother Wolf Adoption Center from the nonprofit’s Amazon wishlist.

2. Monetary Donations. Brother Wolf relies on individual donors’ gifts for the majority of their funding. These funds are critical to operating their lifesaving programs. More information about donating to help the animals of Brother Wolf can be found at www.bwar.org/ways-to-give.