The Guelph Humane Society has been overwhelmed by the public's response to the somewhat overwhelming surrender/rescue of 60 small animals last week.
GHS executive director Adrienne McBride said the influx of donated items,cash and knowledge towards the animals, several of them exotic, has been amazing.
The GHS was seeking to raise $7,500 to help provide for the small animal surrender and as of Monday afternoon had received $6,500 in donations.
"For us it's been overwhelming, the amount of people who have come forward to support us, " McBride said.
Early last week, the GHS received a call from someone in the Guelph area who could no longer care for an assorted family of pets. When officials responded they found a home filled with 60 animals, some of them exotic, some of them pregnant.
Among them are five hedgehogs, a pair of chinchillas, 31 quails, and 20 rabbits.
"We were so pleased with the response. We have rabbits but not that many at once. The food we did have we went through pretty quickly at the beginning."
McBride said the GHS doesn't often get animals like hedgehogs and chinchillas, so people calling in with advice on how best to care for them has been very helpful.
"We're really good at what we do, but we don't often have hedgehogs and chinchillas in our care," McBride said.
The hedgehogs are a mother and her babies and McBride said they will be socialized a bit at the GHS before they are adopted or fostered out. Same with the chinchillas.
Two chickens have been adopted by a farm animal sanctuary and some foster homes for rabbits. Other animals will be at an open house at Kortright Animal Hospital on Tuesday, hopefully generating some interest.
"It's so awesome to know that the community has supported us in this way," McBride said.
For updates when and what animals are available for adoption, check the humane society's web site.
