FAYETTEVILLE -- Prospective pet owners should check out their local animal shelter this weekend.
Most shelters in Northwest Arkansas will participate in the national "Clear the Shelters" pet adoption drive Saturday. Participating shelters will lower adoption fees to $10 for dogs and cats. The reduced rate still includes the usual services for animals, including spay/neuter, microchipping, rabies vaccinations and other necessary treatment.
Clear the Shelter
Adoption fees will be $10 at the following locations:
• Fayetteville
1640 S. Armstrong Ave.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Washington County
801 W. Clydesdale Drive, Fayetteville
10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Springdale
321 Randall Wobbe Lane
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Bella Vista
32 Bella Vista Way
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Rogers Humane Society for Animals
407 E. Nursery Road
10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Source: Staff Report
The event, hosted by NBCUniversal Media and local sponsors, is in its third year and has had more than 73,000 adoptions nationwide. The idea is that folks might be more inclined to adopt a pet at a lowered up-front cost.
"You hate to say that about homeless animals, but it's true," said Tony Rankin, programs manager at the Fayetteville Animal Shelter.
A "teaser" event was held Wednesday at the Chancellor Hotel. The same $10 adoption rate applied during "Cocktails and Dogtails" as a way to get the word out about the larger occasion Saturday.
Potential adopters have to fill out an application. Shelter personnel recommend filling one out before Saturday to get processed faster. The form is available at the shelter or at fayetteville-ar.gov/petadoption.
Fayetteville usually charges $20 for cats and $30 or $60 for dogs. The shelter waives adoption fees for animals older than 10 years. Other shelters in Northwest Arkansas have similar rates.
The Washington County, Springdale and Bella Vista shelters also will try to clear out their temporary tenants this weekend. The Humane Society in Rogers is joining the event as well. A Rogers city official didn't know Wednesday afternoon if the city shelter would be participating.
The Bella Vista shelter especially tries to get its older dogs out the door. Full-grown pooches have been trained and are generally easier to handle, Director Deidre Matney said.
"You just have to love them," she said.
The shelter has a "Senior for Senior" program in which humans 60 years or older can adopt an animal 6 years or older. That will apply Saturday, as will the $10 adoption rate otherwise.
More information can be found at cleartheshelters.com.
NW News on 08/17/2017