(REHOBOTH BEACH, Del.) - Since its grand opening in August, the Delaware Humane Association (DHA) has received a tremendously positive response from the community, according to Adoption Center Manager Jody Rini.
"The impact on dogs and cats, as well as the humans has been overwhelming," said Rini. "We need for very little at all times. We've got over 110 volunteers and we have close to 70 animals that have gone out since our opening."
But even though adoptions are up, Rini says there are still many pets in need of a forever home.
"We're constantly revolving animals in. We're going to be bringing more back in this afternoon," explained Rini. "Once they're adopted out, then we bring more back in."
Rini says the new adoption center in Rehoboth Beach is a satellite office to its headquarters in Wilmington. It is not affiliated with any other adoption agency.
"We don't do any intake. We're just purely adoptions," explained Rini. "Pretty much all of our dogs and cats come from no-kill shelters, not so much cats, but more dogs are coming through the no-kill shelters from all over the country, from as far away as New Mexico or as close as New Jersey."
Due to the need for pet adoptions, Rini says opening a center in Rehoboth Beach just made sense.
"There's a great population of animal lovers here and it was an untapped resource," said Rini.
Shannon Lambert is just one of the center's 110 committed volunteers. She says uniting pets with loving families is the most rewarding part of her job.
"[Pets] are all in need of love," said Lambert. "Some of them come from situations where they've been kind of neglected. We don't get a full history on every animal but it definitely is here for a reason. It doesn't have a home, or it didn't have a happy home."
Rini says the center can always use more volunteers, whether it's helping feed, clean and walk the dogs, or just simply sitting on the sofa and loving the pets. Those who wish to help but have less flexible schedules, Rini says the center accepts donations. It's currently in need of paper towels, cat litter, and canned dog food.
The adoption center is located right off Coastal Highway in the Midway Shopping Center (18675 Coastal Highway, Suite 8, Rehoboth Beach). It's open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.