When Dana DeMasters first heard about Hurricane Debby and the potential threat it posed to the area, she immediately started making preparations to ensure the safety of animals at Tri-County Animal Shelter.
The animal shelter in Chowan County has had flooding concerns in the past, so she wasn’t taking any chances.
“We want to ensure our animals’ and staff’s safety,” said DeMasters, who is shelter director at Tri-County.
DeMasters contacted the Portsmouth Humane Society in Portsmouth, Virginia. The agency was able to take all 26 animals — dogs, cats and one rabbit — at Tri-County.
Even though the storm is now long gone, the animals will remain at the Portsmouth facility, DeMasters said. The agency has already found homes for some of them, she said.
“These partnerships with other organizations are what makes it possible to save animals,” said DeMasters.
DeMasters has been the director at Tri-County Animal Shelter for the last three years. She previously held the position from 2013-18.
“I love this shelter,” she said. “The staff at the shelter works incredibly hard.”
Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, DeMasters has always had a passion for animals, getting her first pet as a child. For the last 20 years, she’s also enjoyed riding horses.
DeMasters began working as a veterinarian assistant at a private practice before coming a clinic coordinator at an animal shelter.
“I love what I do,” said DeMasters. “It is incredibly rewarding.”
She says animals that have lived at a shelter make the best pets. She adopted her own border collie, Jack, from a local shelter.
“They just want a person and when they finally find that person they can just exhale,” DeMasters said.
DeMasters said shelter adoptions do follow a process. Shelter staff listen intently to potential pet owners who visit seeking an animal to take home.
“The goal is to listen to what people say and match (an animal) appropriately,” said DeMasters. “We try our best to make a great match.”
DeMasters said the Tri-County Animal Shelter accepts monetary donations, and there is an Amazon “wish list” on the shelter’s website.
“We are appreciative of anything,” said DeMasters.
The shelter is also always on the lookout for more people willing to donate their time to work at the shelter.
“We love volunteers,” she said.
DeMasters said Tri-County Animal Shelter plans to host an adoption pet event at Petco in Elizabeth City this month.
For more information about the Tri-County Animal Shelter and its adoption events, visit the organization’s website at https://tricountyanimalshelternc.com or Facebook, Instagram or TikTok platforms.
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