Animal shelters to participate in 'Clear the Shelters' adoption event Saturday
Five local animal shelters are among 30 statewide scheduled to participate in Saturday's third annual Clear the Shelters nationwide pet adoption event, sponsored by NBC and Telemundo TV stations.
In southeastern Connecticut, the Connecticut Humane Society facility in Waterford, Ledyard Animal Control, Friday's Rescue Foundation in Groton, Groton Animal Control and Valley Shore Animal Welfare League in Westbrook all will participate in the adoption effort, offering reduced fees, expedited application-adoption and, in some cases, festive activities.
Susan Wollschlager, marketing and communications manager for the Connecticut Humane Society, said the event has been very successful for the organization, which has facilities in Waterford, Westport and at its headquarters location in Newington. Last year, 170 animals were adopted on Clear the Shelters Day at the three Humane Society facilities combined, Wollschlager said.
And they weren't just dogs and cats.
“Right now, we have dogs, cats, guinea pigs, a few chinchillas — the softest little creature you ever met,” Wollschlager said. “There will be puppies and kittens. We don't have any birds at the moment, but we could get birds by Saturday.”
Each participating shelter will set its own hours and prices Saturday, most offering discounts on adoption fees and expedited services.
At the Humane Society facilities, adoption fees will be reduced to no more than $50. Fees already lower than that — $25 for a guinea pig for example — will remain the same, Wollschlager said. Normally, the dog adoption fee is $445, and the fee for a kitten up to age 6 months is $300. Fees for older cats are lower.
Humane Society veterinarians are spending the days ahead of the event examining all its animals to ensure they have medical clearance, have been spayed or neutered and have appropriate accompanying medications for the adoptive family. For example, one 11-year-old basset hound would be sent home with arthritis supplements.
Friday's Rescue in Groton has cats and dogs available and has reduced the adoption fee to $50 to $200. Groton and Ledyard animal control offices have cut their fees to $50 for Saturday's event. Both have dogs and cats available. Valley Shore Animal Welfare League will cut its fees in half: $87.50 for cats and $137.50 for dogs.
According to the NBC Connecticut website, which provides a complete list and map of participating shelters, hundreds of shelters in 20 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico will participate.
“The goal is to #ClearTheShelters by finding forever homes for as many pets as possible,” the statement accompanying the list said. “More than 53,000 pets were adopted during last year's event, but millions more remain homeless.”
List of participants
Animal shelters in southeastern Connecticut participating in Clear the Shelters adoption event Saturday, Aug. 19:
Friday's Rescue Foundation, 270 Rogers Road, Groton. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., cats available. (860) 446-9016. No same-day adoptions.
Groton Animal Control, 68 Groton Long Point Road, Groton, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., dogs and cats available.
Ledyard Animal Control, 1 J. Alfred Clark Way, Ledyard, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., dogs and cats available.
Connecticut Humane Society, 165 Old Colchester Highway, Waterford, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., dogs and cats available.
Valley Shore Animal Welfare League, 647 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., dogs and cats available. (860) 399-7561.
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