Video by Patty Stocker
With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down businesses across the state, the Lowell Humane Society, too, has had to adjust to the changing times.
When Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order requiring all businesses and organizations that do not provide “COVID-19 Essential Services” to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24 at noon, the shelter had to scramble to find foster homes for the animals in their care. Although there are a few adoptable pets at the 951 Broadway St. facility, most are with foster families so that the shelter staff can work safely from home.
“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our foster homes, ” said the shelter’s Marketing and Fundraising Manager, Crystal Arnott. “When all this started, we put everything into effect to send the pets to foster care and immediately, within the first week, we sent over 50 animals out to foster care. We have an amazing network.”
One of those pets sent to a foster home is a 6-year-old, mixed breed dog named Coconut. WestfordCAT’s Patty Stocker Zoom chatted with members of the dog’s foster family who has had Coconut in their care for the past month. The family members described Coconut as sweet and fun. Foster mom, Julie, who requested that WestfordCAT not use her last name, asked the potential adopter to give the little dog time to adapt to her new home. She was very fearful at first, afraid of other pets and loud noises, but slowly she became desensitized and figured out that new people and other pets “are not too bad,” said Julie.
“If people can just give her time, she’s going to be scared for the first couple of weeks. She’ going to want to hide…if you give her the time and patience she needs, she’s going to be a ham. She’s going to be a loving snuggle-buddy,” said Julie.
Interested adopters can contact the Lowell Humane Society at 978-452-7781 to set up an appointment to meet Coconut or visit their website at lowellhumanesociety.org for more information.
