Title: New Hampshire Animal Shelter Overwhelmed by Influx of Mice
Concord, NH— The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NHSPCA) is facing an unprecedented challenge, with a staggering influx of mice arriving at their facility. What began as an offer to relinquish 150 containers of mice quickly escalated to nearly 1,000 rodents, leaving the shelter grappling with how to accommodate the rapidly reproducing animals.
The situation unfolded earlier this week when a man brought in 73 mice, only to reveal that he had approximately 150 containers filled with the critters. By Friday morning, about 450 mice had been admitted, with another 500 expected to arrive soon. "It’s crippling," said Lisa Dennison, executive director of the NHSPCA, noting that this sheer number is putting significant strain on the shelter’s resources.
The shelter has temporarily repurposed part of its cat pavilion into a makeshift mouse hospital, with containers filling every available surface. The rapid reproduction rate of mice compounds the issue, as many of the females are already giving birth. “It’s an exponential problem that keeps growing,” Dennison added.
While the NHSPCA has traditionally managed smaller influxes—such as 54 goats or 39 cats—this current situation poses a unique logistical challenge. To alleviate the strain, other shelters have agreed to accept some of the mice, and several have been placed in foster homes. A small number of mice have already been prepared for adoption, with whimsical names like Doug and Butterfinger.
Community members are stepping up as well; Elisha Murray, inspired by the crisis, adopted four mice despite initially declaring “No more rodents” to her children. “I just figured I could help out,” she explained, highlighting the community’s willingness to assist during this challenging time for the NHSPCA.
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