The premise that Helping Strays is more a community of animal lovers than just a Monroe County shelter was re-emphasized last week.

Volunteers with Helping Strays, along with concerned residents of Columbia, were out in force the morning of Aug. 19 in an attempt to retrieve an adult, female mixed-breed dog which had been abandoned on Quarry Road in north Columbia.

Workers at the nearby quarry reported a man dropped off the dog about 5:30 a.m. Since the dog appeared to have given birth recently, the workers looked for puppies but found none.

Once word spread on social media about the dog being abandoned, several dozen individuals spent most of the morning hours looking for the pooch.

Helping Strays veterinary technician Brittany Reilly confirmed reports that the lady who eventually retrieved the dog used freshly-fried bacon to lure it close enough to secure the animal.

The dog, now named Quarry Palmer after the roads by which it was found, was then taken to Helping Strays to receive medical attention.

As of Tuesday morning, Quarry Palmer was in foster care.

Quarry Palmer is currently available for adoption, as are a number of puppies who were recently admitted to the care of Helping Strays.

On Saturday, a woman from Red Bud left Waterloo Walmart when she discovered a litter of puppies which had been abandoned in a box near Route 3.

She took the puppies to Helping Strays, where they received medical care and a place to stay at the shelter.

Helping Strays Executive Director Trisha Hoagland said the shelter has taken in about 20 puppies in the past few weeks.

The shelter also took in six animals from St. Clair Animal Control last month after that facility was flooded during the July 16 storm that wreaked havoc in the metro area.

Helping Strays has been able to accept the recent animals due in part due to the size of its current facility at 4221 Hanover Road, which opened in 2016.

Despite the increased capability to help cats and dogs which do not have a forever home, the shelter is almost constantly looking for people who would be willing to foster animals.

Fosters allow animals to live in their homes until they are adopted.

Fosters are desperately needed right now, as every available spot at the shelter is full. 

Hoagland reported that as of Tuesday morning, Helping Strays was “definitely at capacity.”

While Hoagland said Helping Strays provides the “absolute best care” for rescue animals in the area, she said cats and dogs have a “happier life when they’re not at a shelter.”

Foster and adoption forms are available through the shelter’s website, helpingstrays.org.

The website also has pictures and information about every animal currently staying at the shelter.

Hoagland added that the shelter provides resources for people who find abandoned or lost animals, as was the case last Monday.

If a person finds a stray, Helping Strays offers food, blankets and other care essentials to assist the finder of an animal to also become its foster, taking care of the animal while it is also included on the list of pets available for adoption.

For more information about adopting or fostering an animal or volunteering at Helping Strays, visit helpingstrays.org, call 618-939-7389 or find Helping Strays on Facebook.