Project Abigail

Most of us have seen the prevalent Facebook posts from human owners whose dogs have puppies and they are being given away for free, or being sold for a few bucks.

Those puppies, however, have not been spayed or neutered, nor are their parents — so the problem just keeps growing exponentially.

But with a Clinton County Humane Society program called Project Abigail, our shelter is not only able to take in the baby animals, give them vaccinations, and spay/neuter them, but we are also able to spay the mother and father dogs to prevent more unwanted puppies, free of charge, as long as conditions are met.

Since Project Abigail started, the shelter has received far fewer litters of unwanted puppies. The Clinton County dog warden has helped reduce the numbers by sharing Project Abigail with those who have unwanted baby animals.

Project Abigail began in March 2009 as a response to overwhelming litters of puppies being brought to the shelter in Wilmington, at 1760 Fife Ave. Abigail was the name of a mama dog who not only nursed her own puppies but ended up saving two other litters of puppies — one group whose mother had been killed and another group that had been dumped by their owners. 

In hopes of preventing more outbreaks of unwanted animals, the Clinton County Humane Society launched Project Abigail.

Spaying and neutering can help stop the vicious cycle of unwanted animals breeding exponentially, with most ending up at various shelters or the county dog pound — or tied to the end of a chain.

The Clinton County Humane Society needs help in spreading the word, so if you see posts giving away litters of unwanted puppies or kittens, please let us know!