When the Animal Response Team phone rings, there’s no telling what may be waiting on the other line. In the case of a call that came in late August, it was a whole animal menagerie including seven goats, ten pigeons, a duck, a rooster, and a box turtle.  

The call came from police on the scene of a potential animal cruelty action that required immediate intervention to remove multiple animals from a dangerous situation. Though these calls are not necessarily uncommon in the world of animal sheltering and social services, they do provide a unique logistical challenge for staff who are faced with two diverging paths: seized animals vs surrendered animals.