MORRISVILLE – North Country Animal League (NCAL) is Morrisville and the Lamoille area’s local shelter. It was established by Jan Gordon Stange, a Hyde Park resident who believed that no animal should be euthanized because they can’t find a home.
NCAL’s website explains “In 1994, the Lamoille County Humane Society (501c3) was founded and formally adopted the name NCAL in 1996. Over the last 30 years, NCAL has become one of Vermont’s most cherished animal welfare and humane education campuses, finding homes for over 15,000 animals.”
NCAL gets their animals as strays, owner surrenders and from rescue partners down south. They now have a sister organization; North Country Equine Center provides “horsemanship and riding programs for local youth, plus boarding and training.” NCAL used to have horse lessons but their main focus has always been the adoption of cats and dogs. Their rescue partners provide animals that would otherwise be euthanized because their shelters are overcrowded.
The shelter can house 10 to 14 dogs and 20 to 30 cats. Their housing room depends on the amount of employees for care and if certain animals need a specialized space. Kittens who are siblings usually get a shared space for themselves as can sibling dogs. Kittens can be four to a space and adult cats can be two to a space. Puppies can be two to a space.
All animals that are available for adoption are spayed or neutered. Some animals come to the shelter already fixed. Other animals can get fixed at NCAL in the surgery suite. The organization has a veterinarian who gives vaccines and does any needed surgeries. Some vaccines can be given by the staff. That includes the rabies vaccine.
Steph Du Preez at NCAL says it’s important to adopt from shelters because, “When people adopt from NCAL they are helping not only homeless animals in our communities but allowing us to help communities in other parts of the US. Our partners in Alabama report to us that healthy puppies are euthanized often at their local shelter due to overpopulation. We are very lucky that we do not have dog and cat overpopulation here in New England due to spay and neuter efforts and that we can help those areas more in need.”
People interested in adopting a pet from NCAL can fill out a registration form on their website. Possible adopters will also find any additional information about the pet and their adoption fee on the website. On the NCAL Facebook page there is a weatherman who features pets as well.
Jakob, who is an adorable black lab/retriever mix featured in the December 4 issue, still needs to be adopted. Toothless, the cat featured in the December 11 issue is also still searching for her forever home.
Olivia Saras is an intern in her senior year at People’s Academy in Morrisville.
