By Chris Nelson
La Plata County Humane Society
Next month is an important month for all of us here at La Plata County Humane Society. You see, October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, which means it is a perfect time to adopt a pet from your local humane society or rescue.
With the weather cooling down, kiddos back in school and families at home more, it is a great time to adopt. It is also a time of year when adoptions slow down and shelters become overfilled with dogs, resulting in overcrowding.
In order to celebrate Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, LPCHS will be adopting all adult dogs at half price. This means you can adopt an adult dog for just $50! This is a bargain for a lifelong furry companion. All dogs at LPCHS are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and have a registered microchip. Why spend hundreds, or even thousands, on a purebred dog, when you can adopt a shelter dog for just $50?
As we all are quite aware, 2020 has been a roller coaster of a year. With COVID-19 and all the strife in the world, we have all learned things differently. At LPCHS, things have changed as well. Like many businesses, we have changed our operations dramatically. While our thrift store is still open to the public, the shelter and kennel are closed to all walk-through traffic.
How can you adopt an animal? Adoptions, as well as all other services, are available online. In order to adopt, visit our website and check out the available dogs. Select one you are interested in or several you would like to meet. Then complete and submit an online application. Once your application is approved to adopt, one of our staff members will call you to set up an appointment to meet a furry friend.
When you arrive at the shelter, one of our adoption counselors will bring the dogs you’re interested in out to our play yard, where you can meet them and see if it’s a good fit. You get to see the dogs in a more peaceful setting and see their true personalities.
Many of the dogs do not show well in a kennel. I promise, this new experience is more personalized than just walking through the kennel, observing the dogs and picking one out.
The animals have also been experiencing many benefits with the closure of our kennel. The dogs are far less stressed without guests walking through. The atmosphere in the kennel is also much quieter, and we have also greatly reduced the number of kennel cough cases.
So if you are interested in finding a “furever” friend, please visit lpchumanesociety.org to get started.
Chris Nelson is director of Animal Services at La Plata County Humane Society.
