LEWISTON — Outside of a few strains and bruises, none of the dogs or kittens being carried when the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society’s van flipped Thursday afternoon on Interstate 95 in New Hampshire were seriously injured.

“One of the drivers had to go to the hospital for minor issues, and other than some road-rash and dislocations, all the puppies and kittens were OK,” shelter Operations Manager Zach Black said.

Two volunteers were transporting a load of 55 dogs, puppies and kittens from a shelter in Pennsylvania just after 1 p.m. when the van flipped along I-95 in Portsmouth, N.H.

Black said the driver overcorrected, flipping the van and scattering crated animals along the side of the interstate. Neither Black nor the Portsmouth, N.H., police would identify the driver or give an update on that person’s medical condition.

Portsmouth police Sgt. Aaron Goodwin said Friday that no charges were being filed in the accident.

According to seacoastonline.com, Portsmouth police responding to the scene feared the worst.

“I figured they’d be a bunch of dead cats and dogs when we got here,” Lt. Mike Maloney told the newspaper. “There were no dogs hurt. None serious.”

Portsmouth police, state police, animal welfare authorities and volunteers reportedly responded and removed the animals from the scene.

Black and other employees from the Lewiston shelter drove down to collect the animals after the accident. The animals range from 10 weeks old to 8 years old, Black said.

The load of animals, more than 40 dogs and puppies and two litters of kittens, are being quarantined at the Lewiston shelter, per state law. All animals transferred to Maine from out-of-state shelters must be quarantined until it can be shown they are healthy.

“All of them, after their quarantine, will get spayed and neutered, a vet check and they’ll be placed up for adoption sometime next week,” Black said.

He recommended people interested in adopting the animals keep an eye on the shelter’s Website and Facebook page.

Black said the shelter takes in animals from other full shelters around the region monthly.

“We are fortunate here, because we place 98 percent of all the animals that come to us,” Black said. “I’m not sure what the national numbers are, but I know our rate is significantly higher then the national average. Maine is really lucky that most of the shelters here can place high numbers of animals.”

Black said the Lewiston shelter is able to find new homes for an average 4,000 animals each year. About 10 percent of those come from out-of-state shelters.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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