After 15 months of falling in love, it became official on Saturday: Foster parents for more than 50 Labradors being held by the state as evidence in an animal cruelty case were able to sign the paperwork to make the dogs part of their families forever.
The Monadnock Humane Society in Swanzey held an adoption party on Saturday, where more than 30 of the dogs were officially signed over to their former foster parents. The rest of the adoptions are to follow shortly.
It’s a relief, and a long time coming, Director for Shelter Operations Emily Kerylow said Saturday.
“My heart is soaring,” Kerylow said. “Not just for us, but for these foster families, and the dogs. It’s been 15 months. They’ve gotten attached, and it’s great to know they’ll be in their permanent placements.”
Because that wasn’t guaranteed.
The dogs – 33 adult dogs and 19 puppies – plus a cat were put into the care of the Monadnock Humane Society in July of 2018, after they were seized from former owner John Riggieri of Marlborough, when they were found to be in poor conditions. Riggieri agreed to surrender the dogs in October, as part of a plea agreement that dismissed two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges.
For those who have been caring for the Labradors in the meantime – some since they were puppies – it meant an end to uncertainty.
“He’s been like ours since day one,” said Jodie Cutter of Peterborough, of their fostered yellow Lab, Cooper. “We knew the first day we’d be willing to adopt, but there was always that worry that he would be taken back.”
On Saturday, Cutter and her husband officially signed the adoption papers.
“It’s been a long time coming,” she said.
“It’s a good holiday present,” agreed Dana O’Brien of Dublin, whose family adopted another yellow Lab, Janie.
“Now we want another one,” said his daughter, Grace.
“He does too, he just doesn’t want to say anything,” added her sister, Emma, indicating to their father, who indeed, admits with a studied casualness that he’d be “fine” with getting another dog.
It’s hard to stay with just one, said Rob Morris of Peterborough, while he and his wife and daughter were officially adopting Smidgen. The family already had a deep love of Labradors, he said – when the opportunity arose to foster Smidgen, they already owned three Labradors of their own.
They’ve adopted a dog from the Monadnock Humane Society before, Shannon Morris said, but Smidgen was their first fostering experience. She said as soon as they heard about the situation, she said volunteering their home for fostering was a “no-brainer”.
“We know how amazing the Humane Society is with matching people and animals, and this was an easy way to help,” she said.
And Smidgen made her way easily into their hearts, she said, immediately making herself at home on their couch and turning into a gentle cuddlebug with their daughter Amaya.
Saturday was a banner day for the shelter as well, as they were able to officially sign off on adoptions for the majority of the pups.
It’s not unusual in these cases where dogs are placed with foster families for long term stays that those families sign on to take the dogs permanently, Kerylow said, but this is the biggest and most expensive case the Monadnock Humane Society has had to deal with “by far,” and the shelter is still dealing with those impacts.
The cost of sheltering, feeding, providing medical care, and spaying and neutering the dogs racked up to more than $400,000 – a cost only about a quarter offset by a wellspring of donations the shelter received specifically for the care of the Labradors.
“We couldn’t have done it without support from the community, from our volunteers, donors and fosters,” Kerylow said. “When you have a dog in your home for so long, you become attached, particularly those who took in the puppies. We’re so pleased with the outcome.”
For more information or to donate to the Monadnock Humane Society, to donate or inquire about becoming a foster parent, visit www.monadnockhumanesociety.org.