Dec. 1, all adult dogs, cats and kittens at both Young Williams Animal Center locations can find their fur-ever homes for $20.
The event, “Empty the Shelters,” is sponsored by Bissell Pet Foundation which has provided grants for 81 shelters across the U.S. to encourage adoptions. This year the foundation has covered most of the adoption fees for the adoptable animals but asks that people make a $20 donation to the shelter to help support local efforts in each community.
“This event is a great opportunity to find forever homes for a large number of pets and open up much-needed space in the shelter,” Janet Testerman, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center, said. “We are fortunate to be able to partner with the BISSELL Pet Foundation on this national initiative. Adopting a pet saves two lives – the one you take home and the kennel space that opens up so that we can shelter another homeless pet.”
According to Courtney Kliman, marketing manager of Young Williams Animal Center, the shelter has seen an influx of pets come into the shelter this year, keeping the shelter overcrowded. The shelter wants to reach their goal of 90 percent leave-alive rate as well as open more space for other animals needing adoption.
“Over the past six months, I have received urgent phone calls from shelter directors across the country saying that their shelters are more crowded than ever with fewer people coming to adopt,” Cathy Bissell, founder of Bissell Pet Foundation, said. “The problem is overwhelming. Shelters are full of wonderful family pets who have been surrendered for a variety of reasons, through no fault of their own, and deserve to be in homes. In response, BPF is holding an additional Empty the Shelters event to give these cats and dogs a chance at holiday hope in a forever home.”
Besides not having space for other animals, overcrowding affects the shelter animals negatively.
“When the shelter is overcrowded, sometimes you get pets that start showing signs of stress and upper respiratory infections run rapid,” Kliman said. “Which means we spend more money to treat them.”
Various studies from the ASPCA and other animal shelters have found no correlation to the price of a shelter animal and the quality of care they receive when adopted. However, Young Williams will still carry out their adoptions process as usual, in order to match animals with the best homes for their needs.
Visitors will need to put in an application and go through the interview process, but also they will need to bring in any home pets for a meet-and-greet to ensure that all animals will get along happily. Applicants will be able to adopt animals after they have been deemed fit by the shelter, but animals will be first come, first serve.
Kliman also warned that people who are considering adoption, really think it through as adopting an animal should be a lifetime commitment, both emotionally and financially.
“If you don’t think you are ready for this kind of commitment, there are also other ways to pay it forward like becoming a foster, volunteering or donating to local shelters,” Kliman said.
The adoption special will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a break from 1-2 p.m. for animal quiet time. Pets will be available for adoption at both the main shelter at 3201 Division St., off Sutherland Avenue, and Young-Williams Animal Village at 6400 Kingston Pike.
Every animal adopted during the special promotion will receive the same services covered by the regular adoption fees, which include a veterinary exam, spay/neuter surgery, some standard vaccinations, a microchip with registration and more.
All animals except puppies can be adopted for $20 during their "Empty the Shelters" event on Saturday, December 1, 2018.
