Humane Society says a shortage of volunteers has caused it to limit the number of animals it takes in

Humane Society of Northeast Iowa president Kim Powell says volunteer numbers have decreased so much as the group's new "Love and Friendship Adoption Center" at Decorah that the Center is turning away animals they would otherwise have room to care for.  "Our volunteer shortage is holding us back on how many animals we can help right now," said Powell.
 
Powell says the Center is licensed to take up to 40 dogs, but they have been keeping that number around 10 to 12 due to the lack of volunteers.  Northeast Iowa residents donated $600,000 to build the Humane Society's new building, but the Center needs more volunteers in order to continue to serve the animals.
 
Volunteer Coordinator Steph Hughes said there have been 382 volunteers go through orientation since December 1st, but 132 of those never came back after orientation.  While 219 people have volunteered more than once, there are about 170 volunteer shifts available each week.
 
Visit www.hsnei.org or call (563) 382-0500 to sign up for a volunteer training. There is a training scheduled for Saturday and several trainings scheduled in July.