In response to a nationwide shortage of people to adopt shelter animals, Helen Woodward Animal Shelter announced on Friday that it will be cutting adoption fees in half for the month of March, including food, cat litter, pet supplies and gas cards. The company announced that it would be provided to those who adopted it.
The aim comes at a time when pet adoptions are at record lows nationwide, causing an “alarming spike” in the number of orphaned dogs and cats being euthanized in other parts of the country. The goal is to encourage `
The Woodward Center in Rancho Santa Fe focuses on transporting orphaned pets from outside San Diego County. In San Diego County, local laws have enacted no-kill ordinances and spay/neuter procedures in the area, making the area a safer place for pets in shelters. law.
But with fewer pets being adopted, Helen Woodward Animal Center has less room to bring in pets from outside the area.
“The situation is very serious,” said Labeth Thompson, the center's pet acquisition manager. “We have to turn down partners that we've worked with for years. They're in tears and frankly, we're in tears, too.
“We can't bring in any more animals if we don't have space for them, and the number of potential adopters coming through the door is the lowest it's been in years,” she said. She added, “We're hearing similar voices from shelters across the country.”
According to the Shelter Animal Population Report, euthanasia at shelters nationwide increased by 64% in 2023, resulting in nearly 1 million fewer adoptions than the previous year.
San Diego County's no-kill laws keep pets alive, but a drop in adoptions means shelter dogs and cats spend weeks, months, or even years in kennels, making it difficult for homes to adopt them. is becoming increasingly difficult to find.
Inflation and a difficult political atmosphere are making prospective adopters more cautious about bringing a new life and responsibility into their homes, the center said in a statement.
“It's very important to me that the message is that we don't take these precious lives lightly,” said Woodward Center CEO Mike Arms. “To ensure these pets are placed with caring owners, we will continue our same rigorous vetting and interview process. It has always been a way to remind families that it is an investment.”
“However, the extreme loss of life across the country is too intolerable to ignore,” Arms said. “If we can help families facing high costs and tight budgets, we want to do our part to make it more affordable to welcome dogs and cats into loving homes. This movement frees up space in kennels and allows us to adopt more orphans.'' We remove pets from high-kill areas and save more lives. ”
During the month of March, Helen Woodward Animal Center will be open seven days a week, adoption fees will be half off, Blue Buffalo will be offering 4 pounds of puppy food, and Naturally Fresh will be offering bags of cat litter. provide. The Pet and Feed Store will be offering a $10 gift card, and the first 100 adopters will receive a $25 gas card.
The center encourages families who are unable to adopt to consider becoming foster parents. For more information on available pets and how to adopt or foster, visit www.animalcenter.org or stop by his location at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe.
