Ocean City Humane Society Saw Spike In Adoptions During Pandemic

OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Humane Society of Ocean City is one of many animal shelters that has seen an uptick in adoptions throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Newly adopted pets served as comforting companions during periods of isolation and provided a sense of routine for people when daily life was disrupted, according to U.S. News & World Report.

In step with these trends, the HSOC set a new record for themselves in 2020 with 109 cat adoptions. They also found new homes for 66 dogs and one parakeet, according to executive director Bill Hollingsworth.

Though their services were in high demand, the shelter was forced to suspend their volunteer program and cancel in-person fundraisers to comply with capacity restrictions.

Before the program was put on hold, the nonprofit relied on a team of 56 volunteers, who helped care for animals in the shelter before they found homes. The volunteer team more than doubles the 20-person staff working in the HSOC's shelter, veterinary hospital and administration office.

“We always thought before it would be a hurricane or something like that would disrupt our operation because we’re on a barrier island. We never thought it would be a virus, and we never thought that if it was something else that it would be this long time,” Hollingsworth said.

Capacity limitations and social distancing measures have changed how the HSOC operates. Veterinarians now go out to the parking lot, bring animals inside and then talk to their owners over the phone. The facility’s dog trainers have also provided socially distant training sessions in their parking lot.

Since late-March of 2020, the HSOC has limited the number of people who can enter their facilities. The shelter only allows clients to come in to put their pets down or to meet animals that they applied for online.

Without the extra hands of their volunteers, the shelter’s staff was tasked with working twice as hard to familiarize themselves with the animals so that potential adopters could get to know them just from how the staff described them online or over the phone.

“We learned how to better allocate our time, manage our resources and be grateful for the things we had before this happened, and one of those things is our volunteers,” Hollingsworth said. “We couldn’t do half the things we do without their help.”

Hollingsworth said the shelter has kept in contact with their volunteers, sending them photos of upgrades around the facility and shelter until they can come view the renovations for themselves.

In addition to a shortage of volunteers, the HSOC has also faced a lack of donations without holding in-person fundraisers. Their annual Thanksgiving 5K race, which draws many people beyond Ocean City, was canceled in 2020 due to capacity restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

Hollingsworth noted that donations from regular contributors continued to support the nonprofit, though without in-person events it was difficult to attract new people to their organization.

“The sad thing is if people don’t see the thing or they’re able to come into the facility, it’s a little harder to fundraise,” he said.

The staff is hoping to organize fundraisers in the second half of 2021 if restrictions on gatherings are lifted.

The HSOC currently accepts donations through their website and they also launched an Amazon wish list filled with items they need to feed and care for their animals. According to the HSOC’s website, high priority items include dry dog food, wet cat food, disinfecting bleach, paper towels, 33 gallon trash bags, dish washing gloves and blue Dawn dish soap.

Throughout March, for each reusable “Give Back Where It Counts” bag purchased at the ACME on West Avenue in Ocean City, the store will donate $1 to the HSOC.

Hollingsworth said the easiest way people can support the HSOC is to seek out their shelter if they are looking to adopt an animal.

“One of the things that we pride ourselves on is 93 cents of every dollar we collect goes right back to services and programs for our animals,” Hollingsworth said.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization or initiative that should be profiled, contact kimberee.bongard@patch.com.