By Conrad Dudderar
Senior Staff Writer
As it looks for a new site, a Canadian County animal welfare society is offering a pet adoption special this weekend to find loving owners for some sweet homeless pets.
“We know this is a great opportunity to find forever homes for our very adoptable cats and dogs,” said Amy Young, executive director of Pets & People Humane Society. “We’re in the process of transitioning to a new adoption center at a different location in the Yukon area.”
Pets & People is partnering with Bissell Pet Foundation for an “Empty the Shelters” adoption event this Friday through Sunday, July 10-12 at 701 Inla (old animal shelter).
Pets & People is among more than 160 rescue partners and shelters across 32 states participating in this three-day adoption special to find “forever homes” for homeless animals.
The reduced fee adoption event will aim to find new homes for thousands of cats and dogs nationwide. Thanks to Bissell Pet Foundation, now’s the time to adopt a new best friend for just $25.
Pets & People’s normal adoption fees are $135 for dogs and $85 for cats.
This is the second time in three months Pets & People is working with the Bissell Foundation to provide the limited-time offer.
“We had 43 adoptions – 38 dogs and five cats – at our first ‘Empty the Shelters’ event May 9-17,” Young said. “ That included several of our ‘long-term’ animals who had been with us longer than six months.
“The result was incredible and we hope to have similar success this time.”
Many “Empty the Shelters” adopters use money they save on adoption fees to buy items their new pets really need – like bowls, carriers and leashes.
Pets & People is offering this weekend’s special through “curbside adoptions” and prospective owners must be pre-screened to ensure their homes will be a “good fit” for the animals.
“Because they go through the pre-approval process, we’ve found that our return rate is down to just 3%,” Young said. “Pets are not coming back to us because they’ve been thoroughly screened and vetted.”
Young emphasized that people just can’t “show up and pick out a dog or cat” but should call in advance to schedule an appointment so they may take advantage of the $25 “Empty the Shelters” adoption special.
Pets & People has adopted out 502 animals since Jan. 1. The organization has saved about 58,000 animals since its inception in the early 1990s.
Pets & People will be out of the former City of Yukon animal shelter by the end of December.
“We’re now looking at several options and hope to make a decision on our new place in the near future,” Young said.
Pets & People and Yukon Animal Control shared space at the old animal shelter for more than 20 years before the City of Yukon in January opened its new animal control facility.
MORE ABOUT ‘EMPTY THE SHELTERS’
All animals featured in this weekend’s “Empty the Shelters” promotion will be microchipped and spayed/neutered to prevent further pet homelessness. They also will be vaccinated and heartworm tested.
With fostering pets becoming so prevalent during COVID-19, Bissell Pet Foundation will honor “foster-to-adopt” cases that start as fosters during this weekend and are finalized up to one week after the event.
“More pets run away on the 4th of July than any other day of the year,” said Cathy Bissell, founder of Bissell Pet Foundation. “The increase in shelter intake puts pressure on our partners, who are already working with limited staff and funding due to COVID-19. The best way for us to support them is to help their pets find loving homes.”
Pets & People is working with interested adopters to schedule “meet and greet” appointments following local guidelines. Learn more by visiting Pets & People’s website or Facebook page.
Bringing awareness to adoptable animals in shelters is a priority for Bissell Pet Foundation, its owner said.
“Over four years, the Empty the Shelters program continues to prove that with a little patience and research, you can find any breed you’re looking for at a shelter near you,” Bissell said.
“It’s really a win-win for homeless pets and adopters.”
Since the program began in 2016, Empty the Shelters has found homes for 37,394 pets and counting.
During the COVID-19 pandemic alone, 6,231 pets were adopted during two events executed by appointment only.
View pets for adoption at www.petsandpeople.com or Pets & People’s Facebook page.
