By Beth David, Editor
Chief Daniel M. Dorgan would like to thank the Fairhaven community for its outpouring of support after the department took custody of 15 dogs surrendered by a town resident.
On Friday, 2/21/25, at about 9 a.m., Fairhaven Animal Control Officer Terry Cripps received a call from a resident who said they were being evicted at noon and had “a few dogs” to surrender. When asked how many dogs they had to surrender, the resident revealed they had 15 pit bulls, three adults and 12 10-week-old puppies who needed a home.
ACO Cripps, along with members of the Fairhaven Police Department, responded to the home and one-by-one removed the dogs.
Six puppies were transferred to Forever Paws for fostering. Three others are being fostered by other families. And three puppies are a the shelter and will be available for adoption in about 5 months.
The remaining adults dogs will remain at the Fairhaven Animal Shelter until they are old enough to have proper vaccinations and be deemed adoptable.
Fairhaven Police initially asked the community for help providing puppy food and supplies, given the unexpected number of animals. The community stepped up immediately, providing hundreds of pounds of food, and more.
“Thank you so much to everyone who answered our call for puppy supplies,” said Chief Dorgan. “The overwhelming response to our request has warmed all of our hearts. The Fairhaven community is amazing!”
The shelter now has plenty of provisions for the surrendered animals.
“If you haven’t already ordered anything, please wait a little longer to make a donation for our puppies,” said Lt. Timothy F. Souza, the Department’s Public Information Officer. “The amount of provisions our community has provided is staggering. We are grateful to our residents for their kind support.”
Mr. Cripps told the Neighb News he did not know why the resident was being evicted. He said he got the call at 9 a.m. that they had to remove the dogs by noon.
He only had three hours to get 15 dogs, and he already had seven dogs in the kennels, and he only has 13 kennels. So, it was a bit hectic and the dogs were the priority.
Mr. Cripps said the adult dogs, two females and one male, were “extremely stressed out,” especially the mother of the 12 puppies.
A trainer was scheduled to evaluate and work with the dogs to “put them on a path to make them adoptable.”
No dog is available for adoption before it is six months old because that’s the minimum age to neuter and spay them, he said.
He is not taking applications for the puppies until they are ready to be adopted, in about five months.
Meanwhile, he has five other dogs available for adoption now. He had seven, but two were adopted over the weekend.
The shelter is at 200 Bridge Street, Fairhaven. Call 508-979-4028, to learn more about available animals.
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- Fairhaven Police and Animal Control took custody of 15 dogs, including 12 10-week old puppies on 2/21/25, from a single owner who was facing eviction. Photo courtesy of Fairhaven Police.
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- Several Fairhaven Police officers stopped by the Fairhaven Animal Shelter to visit and cuddle 12 puppies that were surrendered on 2/21/25 by a town resident who was facing eviction, L-R: Fairhaven Police Officers Cooper Howell, Jillian Jodoin, Ethan Horsley. Photo courtesy of Fairhaven Police.
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- The Fairhaven community stepped up to donate hundreds of pounds of puppy food after 15 dogs, including 12 puppies, were surrendered lon 2/21/25. Photo courtesy of Fairhaven Police.
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Click here to download the 02/27/25 issue: 02-27-25 Puppies
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