Doggie demand

▶️ Listen to this article now.

Hundreds of people are rushing to adopt the dogs rescued from a Kellogg hoarding situation Monday and now at the Kootenai Humane Society.

KHS Development Director Vicky Nelson said Wednesday they received 250 online adoption applications specifically for those dogs — so many KHS finally removed the form from its website.

She said they also received many phone calls from people offering to deliver dog food, but KHS is well stocked in that area.


“We can’t take anymore,” she said. “The best thing they can do is go online and make a donation.”

Sixty-six small breed dogs, mainly terriers and Chihuahuas and some Jack Russells, were brought to KHS and are doing well, Nelson said. They were let outside for the first time and spent the morning enjoying the sunshine.

“They’re fine,” she said.

Three dogs were adopted Wednesday, and five more will likely be adopted today, as they were fixed. More are expected to go to homes this weekend.

While adoptions are wonderful and the dogs are generally healthy, Nelson did add that the dogs are not house broken, so those planning to adopt one should be prepared for that.

Nelson said more than anything, KHS could use monetary donations. Its autoclave, a machine that sterilizes surgery utensils, broke down and a replacement costs $8,500. It also needs more vaccines.

And it is continuing to raise money for a new shelter. A capital campaign has brought in a little more than $5 million toward a goal of $6.5 million.

The dogs were discovered Monday when the landlord of the home on Mullan Avenue went to the property to do a walk-through following multiple notices to the tenant, who was being evicted.

The landlord had been notified by a text message from the phone of the tenant that there were multiple dogs living in the residence and they needed help.

The home was reportedly completely soiled. The tenant was gone.

Of the original 85 dogs that were discovered, 83 survived. One was dead inside the home and one had to be euthanized. Some of the dogs were placed with foster homes. Most went to KHS.

The tenant of the home has not been found.