FAYETTEVILLE -- Local animal shelters offer discounted adoption fees to help find cats and dogs a home for the holidays, not to encourage giving pets as Christmas gifts.
The Washington County Animal Shelter will waive adoption fees and discount vaccinations during its Share the Love adoption event Saturday. The event was made possible through a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Pet adoption events
What: Share the Love adoption event. No adoption fees; $5 vaccines; $10 microchips.
When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Washington County Animal Shelter, 801 W. Clydesdale Drive, Fayetteville
What: Photos with Santa and adoption special. $10 adoption fee includes spay/neuter, vaccination and microchip.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 10
Where: Fayetteville Animal Shelter, 1640 S. Armstrong Ave.
Source: Staff report
A photo with Santa will cost $5, the proceeds of which will go to the shelter, said Carmen Nelson with the Animal League of Washington County.
Shelter officials don't want people to interpret the waived adoption fees as an invitation to fill loved ones' stockings with kittens and puppies. Potential adopters still have to fill out an application during the event, Nelson said. Applicants have to check a box indicating whether the animal will be a gift.
"The shelter will process those applications accordingly," she said. "We discourage pets for Christmas gifts. We want it to be a well thought out process."
The Fayetteville Animal Shelter will offer $10 adoption fees Dec. 10. The shelter usually charges $20 for cats and $30 or $60 for dogs. Animals 10 years and older are free to adopt. Santa also will make an appearance at the Fayetteville shelter.
Justine Lentz, Fayetteville Animal Services superintendent, suggested wrapping a collar as a Christmas present and following up by bringing a loved one to the shelter to pick out a new friend.
The Fayetteville shelter also screens applicants and asks if the pet will be a gift. Shelter staff just want to make sure the animal goes to a permanent, loving home, Lentz said.
People often think shelters receive dozens of unwanted pets after the holidays, Lentz said. The Fayetteville shelter may see one or two animals returned to the shelter that didn't work out, she said.
Giving animals as Christmas presents seems to have died down a little bit as animal shelters have evolved from being known as "the pound," Lentz said.
"I think people are little bit more conscious of things like that these days, putting more thought into it," she said.
Dr. Viki Cyphers, of Family Pets Veterinary Care on East Township Street, said getting a pet shouldn't be an impulse decision. Factors like how much care and time one can devote to an animal and whether the breed bodes well with the household should always play a key role, she said.
"A lot of families do look for pets at Christmastime," Cyphers said. "We would encourage them to go do it, but it should be done as a family."
The Springdale Animal Shelter also is offering a seasonal discount rate of $20 for any dog more than 20 pounds and any cat more than 3 pounds. Adoption rates usually are $90 for dogs and $85 for cats, which includes spay/neuter, vaccinations and microchipping.
NW News on 12/02/2016