“It is inhumane and dangerous for hunters to cut these dogs loose to fend for themselves after deer season,” said animal control officer Kevin Keeve. “They end up starved along the highways, threatening traffic accidents, and causing injury to themselves and others.”

By the end of the season, some hunting dogs are in bad shape, sick, and won’t run anymore, he said.

“The humane thing for hunters to do is take them to a veterinarian,” said Keeve. “Instead, all too often they remove the collar and set the dogs loose.”

Keeve suspects hunt clubs are largely responsible for the surge in hunting-dog strays. Northumberland County is known for deer hunting.

“Off the top of my head, I can think of at least 20 hunt clubs in the county,” Keeve said.

Sheriff Chuck Wilkins said Keeve will be making visits to the hunt clubs in the county to inspect the kennels and caution clubs against releasing dogs.

“Most organized hunt clubs are law-abiding and promote safe and ethical hunting practices,” Wilkins said. “It is the few that practice the inhumane dumping of unwanted hounds that we are after.

“We are asking that anyone that has knowledge of this sort of activity to please report to us. We need tag numbers of vehicles seen dropping hounds. The sheriff’s office will  seek prosecution of anyone abandoning these animals,” Wilkins said.

Keeve takes the animals to the county shelter, but it faces over-crowding as a result.

“It is over-whelming this time of year, every year, due to the hunting dogs,” said volunteer supervisor Fran Warren. “Unfortunately, there is little we can do for them – the hounds stand almost no chance of getting adopted. It is especially rough on the volunteers to see these half-starved animals.”