Animal Shelter adopts out 17 pets during monthly event

This month, eight dogs and nine cats found new forever homes at last week’s free animal adoption held at the Copperas Cove Animal Shelter on July 14 and 15.

 

The monthly theme was “Shelter Pets Make Super Pets!” with the Copperas Cove Leader-Press and Cove Banner sponsoring the event.

 

Alexis Vidrine not only adopted a dog last week, but she also won a four-pack of Schlitterbahn tickets, courtesy of the Copperas Cove Leader Press.

 

All new pet owners had their photos taken in front of a superheroes backdrop.

 

“The total number of animals that have been actually adopted out from all 22 two-day adoption events is 364,” reported Senior Animal Control Officer David Wellington. “This number has far exceeded our anticipated number of only possibly 6 animals per event.”

 

Regular adoption fees waived total $6,770 for the 364 animals adopted since 2014. However, the department believes this amount is equaled out by not having to care for, feed, or possibly euthanize this many animals had they remained at the shelter.

 

The city began holding these free monthly pet adoptions nearly two years ago.

 

The free adoptions began as a spin-off from when a former animal control office, Aleea Best, asked to hold a “black fur” free adoption event in 2014, with all animals with black fur available for free. Best also worked with several animal rescue groups locally to help re-home animals that found themselves impounded at the animal shelter, whether picked up as strays or surrendered by their owners. 

 

Like now, as in 2014 when the first-free adoption event was held, the goal is to reduce the number of animals euthanized at the shelter. 

 

So far that effort seems to be working. Comparing the time period of January through May 2015 and 2016, the total number of impounded dogs euthanized in 2015 during the same time period was 98, with 19 impounded dogs being euthanized from January through May 2016. These numbers don’t include the owner-impounded dogs euthanized during the same time period. For cats, those numbers are higher than dogs, with 119 impounded cats euthanized for 2016, but still lower than the 168 for 2015.

 

Regular adoption fees are $20 for dogs and $15 for cats, with a spaying and neutering contract being required of all adoptive owners. Dogs and cats must also be licensed with the city at a cost of $3 annually.

 

The shelter is located at 1601 N. 1st St. and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon. Animals available for adoption may be viewed when the shelter is open.