Paws & Affect in the Community - The Heart of Delmarva

Mar 30, 2021

The Humane Society of Wicomico County has been a staple in the Delmarva community for many years. But their service goes beyond the basic animal adoption. They truly want to better the lives of the animals they come in contact with and impact the humans at the same time. 

Their goal is to be in community with Wicomico County, not just be a service provider. They want pet owners to make informed decisions, which makes adoption, fostering, and other services provided a success. Kim Nock, Executive Director, says “We just share whatever makes someone’s life easier with pets.” They have a wealth of knowledge about many aspects of pet ownership such as emergency how-tos, spay and neuter information, and training tips. They also partner with professionals to best serve the needs of the community.

Adopting a new adoption process.

It used to be that those interested in adoption would stroll through the shelter freely in search of a new furry family member. At times there were 100 people coming through the shelter each day. All that changed when COVID-19 hit. Through a necessary shift in their process due to pandemic limitations, they discovered a safer, more relaxed and successful adoption environment. 

“People used to walk through the animal’s personal space, staring at them, feeding them treat upon treat,” says Kim. This process was causing undue stress on the animals. They noticed stomach issues due to excessive amounts of treats used to socialize with the animals. Also, the true personality of the animals was not shining through because of the uneasiness the commotion around them was causing. 

Now adoptions are by appointment only. Animals are brought out to the adopters one at a time in a leisurely environment so their real character is unleashed (pun intended). “COVID has educated us on what is healthiest for our animals. It’s harder on the staff, but it’s best for the animals, so that’s what we do. We do it for them,” says Kim.

Interested in adopting? Fill out the Adoption Application on the website then click on “Available for Adoption” to search for your new friend!

The Humane Society of Wicomico County has many other programs in addition to adoption. Check out the ACE Hardware “Cat Condo” that’s resulted in 11 adoptions so far since its beginning about 8 months ago. They also have collection boxes for supplies throughout the county at retailers such as Petsmart and Concord Pet. They’ve visited schools to educate children on animals with topics such as how to best introduce yourself to a dog so as to not frighten them. They’ve also partnered with The Girl Scouts, Salisbury University students and local high schoolers for community service hours.

They also partner with individual volunteers. These folks are the heartbeat of the organization. They take dogs around town to socialize them and walk them multiple times a day. They also have playtime with the cats, serve in the clinic, and so much more. The Humane Society is forever grateful for their service.

Donations and volunteers are always welcome.

They always need cleaning products, feline and dog toys, and both wet and dry cat and dog food. They also use a lot of Martingale collars for training. And they are always looking for volunteers for walking, socialization, and more. Call or visit their Facebook page or website for more information. Donation needs can also be found on their Amazon Wish List.

What’s on the horizon?

Up next is a Community Yard Sale and Market on Saturday, April 10 from 8am to 2pm at 5130 Citation Dr., Salisbury, Md. The pandemic halted the 2020 “Struttin’ Our Mutts” event, but they are hoping to hold the 2021 event. 

Spoiler Alert!

The Humane Society is building an outdoor cat sanctuary for feral cats to help tame and home them. In the very near future, they are expanding the shelter! Visit their Facebook page to read about the “Give 5 to Save Lives” campaign that’s helping to fund this effort. They are always sharing their days on social media so keep checking back! 

“Not a day goes by that I walk into work and don’t think I’m the luckiest girl to work there,” Kim says. The community is appreciative of everything you and your team are doing. Thank you for being transparent in your works, and for always doing what is best for the animals in our community. We a-paws you!