BELLEFONTE — After 43 dogs were rescued from an apparent hoarding situation late last week, the Centre County commissioners are considering a donation to help cover the cost of their care.

The proposed donation was suggested as a way to offset strain placed on Centre County PAWS, the county’s largest no-kill animal shelter, while it cares for the dogs.

After taking in six dogs from the same property the week prior, Centre County Humane Officer Mark Rusnak and his team delivered an additional 37 dogs to the shelter on Friday as part of an ongoing humane investigation into their owner.

According to Centre County PAWS, staff members have been working around the clock to safely intake the dogs and provide immediate medical care, describing the effort as “all hands on deck.”

“Many are in heartbreaking condition,” the shelter said in a statement. “They are covered in fleas and feces and in desperate need of medical attention.”

PAWS noted that 15 of the dogs are puppies, some of which are only days old.

The shelter said the scale of care required has stretched resources, noting cases like these require extensive medical treatment, supplies, staffing and ongoing support.

“Right now, our focus is on medical care, cleaning, warmth and stabilization for every single dog. This is an intensive, around-the-clock effort,” PAWS said. “Your support is the reason we’re able to say yes when animals need us most.”

Commissioner Steve Dershem said the situation highlights the financial burden animal hoarding cases place on local animal care providers and suggested the county consider stepping in.

“I think it’s something we should consider because 50 animals, or whatever the exact number is, is a huge burden for any organization to bear,” Dershem said. “Ultimately, it’s going to be quite expensive for PAWS, and they’ve been a great partner with us.”

Commissioners Mark Higgins and Amber Concepcion appeared receptive to the idea and asked County Administrator John Franek to contact the shelter to determine its needs.

In the meantime, commissioners thanked those who have already contributed and encouraged additional donations from the public.

“Thanks to anyone who is able to donate to PAWs,” said Concepcion. “A few extra donations at this time I’m sure would be helpful because they had to provide a lot of veterinary care as part of this process.”

Dershem also emphasized the scope of the response.

“This was a huge, huge endeavor for them,” Dershem added. “That’s a lot of veterinary bills, a lot of care. If it weren’t for the love of so many good volunteers in our community I don’t know what we’d do.”

He further pointed to the county’s humane officer program as central to resolving these animal abuse situations.

“This is also the reason why a little while back we decided that a humane officer for a county the size of ours was necessary,” Dershem said. “I think it’s proven out in this circumstance.”

Higgins also expressed appreciation for the shelter’s work and the community response.

“We would very much like to thank PAWS, their staff, their volunteers and all the county residents, who I hear have at least temporarily rehomed all but one of those 43 animals,” he said.

Authorization for the donation will likely be included on next week’s agenda.

Separately, the commissioners also issued a letter of support for the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association and approved paperwork related to opioid settlement funding.

Snow Shoe Rails to Trails

For the past three decades, the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association (SSRTA) has maintained more than 40 miles of trails, serving walkers, bikers, equestrians, ATV riders and snowmobilers.

The SSRTA says they are seeking funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to purchase a Bobcat compact track loader to assist with the maintenance of those trails.

According to information provided to the commissioners, most of the SSRTA’s operating and maintenance costs are covered through membership dues, with grant funding intended to supplement those efforts and support the equipment purchase.

The additional equipment would help volunteers more efficiently clear debris, grade trail surfaces, manage water damage and remove hazardous obstructions along the trail system. The commissioners unanimously approved the letter, noting that “investing in (the SSRTA’s) operational capacity will directly benefit the public.”

Opiate Settlement Funding

Cathy Arbogast, director of Centre County Government’s Mental Health, Intellectual Disabilities, Early Intervention and Drug and Alcohol departments, briefed commissioners on a new round of national opioid settlement funding.

She said the funding is being distributed through national settlement agreements, with about $97 million allocated among participating agencies nationwide. The county is slated to receive $26,846.35 in the latest round of payments.

The agenda item approved by commissioners allows the county to formally accept the funds, which must be used for approved programs and services for individuals impacted by the opioid crisis.