The Middleburg Humane Foundation, along with Fauquier and Loudoun County Animal Shelters has stepped up to help Louisa County Sheriff's Department and Animal Control rescue over 600 animals last week. Animals range from birds, fowl, small mammals, and livestock. Middleburg Humane has agreed to take in the old, sick and pregnant animals. As of December 8th, MHF has received 40 of the 77 animals. The animals will be received in stages to properly document and medically treat each one. During this first wave, MHF has received 14 goats, 22 ducks, 2 pheasants, 1 peacock, and 1 bantam chicken. Many of the female goats are pregnant and will give birth soon. The veterinarian will know by Thursday of this week how many goats are pregnant. MHF has tentative plans to receive bunnies, guinea pigs, carrier pigeons, chickens and roosters pending the test results performed by the state veterinarian.

Preparations to comfortably house the animals are well underway, thanks to monetary donations from the public. MHF has spent $600 so far on housing and enclosures for the animals. The holiday season campaign is the time when MHF asks for winter donations specifically for emergency winter rescues and to promote "A Home for the Holidays" to clear the shelter of the animals already waiting for new homes. With the rescue happening early in the season, the shelter hopes to receive donations from a broader audience this year. "We run low on funds towards the end of the year and we stretch our dollars as far as possible. This rescue places a strain on our income as our donations are just beginning to trickle in but we have faith in our surrounding communities. They always pull through for us in time of great need."

MHF expects to do this in waves. Once we find homes for the animals we currently have taken in, we will bring in more. We are currently looking for fosters and fosters to adopt, particularly with the goats, MHF needs fosters with whelping experience. Everything will be cleared medically before going home with someone including the pregnant animals. All animals will go to a foster with medications and food. MHF may ask fosters to provide feed for the foster animals while in their care. If you would like to get involved, please fill out an application to adopt or foster online at www.middleburghumane.org or if you would like to donate in other ways they will need tarps, zip ties, bleach, paper towels, bedding/shavings (cedar or pine), hay, straw, etc. The full list can be found on the MHF Amazon Wishlist which is located on their website under donate.

Adoption rates vary depending on the type of animal. Goats are $50, Chickens, ducks, pigeons, and pheasants are $15, Rabbits are $25

Please fill out the application at www.middleburghumane.com.

IN ADDITION: MHF will need tarps, zip ties, bleach, paper towels, bedding/shavings (cedar or pine), hay, straw, etc. These can all be found on our Amazon wishlist at https://www.amazon.com/…/regi…/wishlist/ref=cm_wl_search_25…

OR DONATE and we will purchase emergency supplies: https://www.middleburghumane.org/donate

We will know more about whos pregnant by Thursday. We want to start the foster process by next. As of right now, no one is available for foster or adoption because they aren't cleared medically.

On December 8th, Middleburg Humane Foundation took in 14 goats, 22 ducks, 2 pheasants, 1 peacock, and 1 bantam chicken. Many of our female goats are pregnant and will give birth soon. MHF does still plan to tentatively take in bunnies, guinea pigs, carrier pigeons, chickens, and roosters depending on the all clear from the test results that the state vet is performing. We are still accepting applications, both foster, and adoption, for the animals that we have taken in already. If you are interested in adding to your flock or herd, please fill out the application online at www.middleburghumane.com. Thank you for your patience and understand as we get all of the animals settled-in and vetted.

In addition, yesterday in preparation for the animals to come into MHF, we spent about $600 on housing and enclosure needs. If you would like to help us cover the costs of upcoming vet visits, feed costs, and other expenses, please donate to https://www.middleburghumane.org/donate.