The coronavirus outbreak has proved tough for countless businesses and organizations in Carbon County, local animal rescues among them.

Dana Dunbar, who manages the Carbon County Friends of Animals Shelter in Jim Thorpe, said the rescue has run out of some essentials usually donated by supporters, such as paper towels, Lysol and other cleaning supplies.

Fundraisers, like CCFOA’s May bingo, have been pushed to later dates.

The shelter, which relies on public donations, raises almost $800 a week to fund operations. Dunbar said since it closed to visitors on March 17, CCFOA has collected less than $300. While it recently placed a food and litter order, Dunbar said that came out of the shelter’s limited funds.

“Eventually,” she said, “the funds are going to dwindle away.”

“I mean it’s just a tough time for everyone,” Dunbar said.

Along with caring for the 200-odd cats it houses, CCFOA has temporarily stopped taking in new felines. And the shelter isn’t currently considering walk-in adoption appointments, as they could expose staff to COVID-19, Dunbar said.

“We can’t go crazy and keep on accepting,” Dunbar said. “Our adoptions are on a pause, so the 200 cats we have sitting here are just going to continue sitting.”

In Nesquehoning, the Carbon County Animal Shelter had to close its doors to not only visitors, but also its volunteers.

Tom Connors, shelter director, said since closing in mid-March, the rescue’s four-person staff has taken on the dog walking and socializing skills usually done by volunteers.

“It’s a lot different without them,” Connors said. “The dogs are quiet. But the dogs are also lonely.”

“It’s been very challenging,” he said.

On a positive note, Connors said the number of after-hour calls the shelter receives for rescues or free-roaming dogs have “dropped dramatically.” “We’re looking at that as a good thing,” he said. Adoptions may be on hold, but supporters have sent supplies to the Nesquehoning shelter and dropped necessities at its door.

“We’re going to do this together,” Connors said. “We’re going to see this thing through.”

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture temporarily lifted the state’s dog law requiring shelters to neuter dogs and cats before adopting them out, the agency announced in a news release Thursday.

In an effort to save personal protective equipment for health care workers dealing with the spread of COVID-19, the waiver isn’t permanent; rescues will have to follow up with adopters and schedule the procedure post-pandemic.

“I think it’ll just limit exposure,” said Dr. Sheri Newell, of Homestead Veterinary Center in Jonas.

At Homestead, Newell said procedures have already been limited to essential only. Routine work, like vaccinations, have also been temporarily halted. Pets in need of immediate care are picked up by technicians at the curb or in the parking lot outside the clinic, so owners don’t have to go inside.

As a result, Homestead’s patient intake is down about 60%, Newell said. And it’s low on personal protective equipment.

“We have not been able to buy any more masks,” Newell said. “Our personal protective equipment is limited, and that’s also part of the reason not to do a spay.”

While Homestead waits on more masks, Newell said, employees are using fabric ones made by a client.

“We’re really reusing and holding on to the ones that we have,” she said.

If you want to help out a local shelter, like CCFOA, you can order food and supply donations online (from websites like Amazon or Chewy) and have them sent directly to the rescue. Donations can also be dropped at the door.

Contact the Carbon County Friends of Animal shelter at 77 W 13th St, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229; 570-325-9400.

Contact the Carbon County Animal Shelter at 63 Broad St., Nesquehoning; 570-325-4828.