The West Deer Township Dog Shelter is operated by the Township as a service to the community. It is the only municipally-operated dog shelter in the area, and is staffed by volunteers. The shelter relies on support from the community. Only dogs are housed. No other animals - including cats - are accepted. Cats are, however, part of the spay and neutering program. The West Deer Dog Shelter exists to helps the lost and stray dogs of West Deer Township. Any time a dog is found, attempts are made to reunite them with their owners. If an owner cannot be found, the dogs are given vaccinations, neutered or spayed, and given a health check by our vet. They are then placed in loving indoor homes. The shelter holds a maximum of twelve dogs. Unlike larger shelters, our animals are not usually living in cages. They have the freedom to come inside the building, or outside into a large fenced-in area. This allows the dogs to remain socialized and not become cage-bound. The Animal Control Officer of West Deer Township, Mr. William Payne, oversees the volunteers, speaks at local schools regarding the responsibility and care of animals, and handles all dog complaints. Volunteers are available to speak to any size group – including a group of neighbors in someone’s home - on how to teach children to react in possible scary situations involving dogs, the care of dogs, and other related topics. If you are trying to find the Shelter, it is located on the orange belt near Deer Lakes High School directly behind the West Deer Township Municipal Building on 109 East Union Road.