‘We always need help’: Prineville shelter faced with crowding pleads for adoptions, fosters, volunteers

(Update: Adding video, comments by shelter volunteer foster, director)

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- At the end of October, the Humane Society of the Ochocos was at 145% capacity for dogs, meaning they were forced to double and even triple-up in indoor kennels or be placed outside. 

The no-kill shelter turned to social media for help and is still looking for assistance through adoption or fostering. 

When it comes to animals in need, volunteer foster Itzi Xipil often offers a helping hand. 

“I wish that I could do so much more,” Xipil said. “I had a rough childhood, and the only ones that were always there for me were the animals.” 

His house in Redmond has become quite crowded. 

"We currently have 18 cats in the house, which includes 11 of ours, seven fosters, and then our two dogs,” Xipil said. 

And he’s not alone. 

"We have 46 cats in shelter,” said Jessica Williams, the shelter manager at the Humane Society of the Ochocos. “We have, I think, 34 dogs in shelter and about a couple of hundred in fosters and foster to adopt, waiting to be fully adopted or just waiting to come back into the shelter.” 

At the end of October, the shelter made a social post stating it was at 145% capacity for dogs and needed immediate assistance. 

“Since the initial plea for help, we've gotten 10 dogs into foster to adopt, two fully adopted, and three into foster,” Williams said. “It's been wonderful, but the plea never stops. We always need help - fosters, volunteers.” 

And if you aren’t able to adopt or foster, there's still plenty ways you can help out. 

"Please spay and neuter your animals, microchip your animals,” Williams said. “If you can't adopt, foster. If you can't foster, volunteer. If you can't volunteer, spreading the word, sharing our posts.” 

Xipil is a veteran and says if it weren’t for these animals, he wouldn’t be here. He designed special sweatshirts to sell ahead of Veterans Day, with 50% of the profits going to the shelter. 

“It means a lot to me, saving lives saves lives. That rings true to me,” Xipil said. 

He encourages you to join in on the effort: "Volunteering, adopting, fostering. Anything that we can do to help."

If you’re interested in adopting a new furry friend from the shelter or becoming a foster, the Humane Society of the Ochocos is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Available animals are listed on their Facebook page. 

Executive Director Chanda Willis would like to thank everyone that has reached out and helped this far.