Local animal shelters are seeking donations to keep animals fed and loved until they find their forever homes.
During the holidays, several shelters have run specials on adoption fees to free up space in their kennels. The specials are designed to encourage potential pet owners to bring in donations in exchange for a lower adoption fee for their new friend.
For some pets, the odds to get adopted are stacked against them due to their age, breed, or appearance. According to the pet company Chewy, senior dogs accounted for only 5% of dog adoptions in 2020, and senior cats faced the same issue – only accounting for 3% of adoptions in 2020, even as many families brought home pets in greater numbers during the pandemic.
In an effort to send pets to a loving home, Kenton County Animal Services has operated on a Name Your Price special this month. They announced the special event on social media to let families know which pets are available for adoption. Though the fee may be cheaper, Kenton County Animal Services’ adoption procedure still applies, they noted. They also recently shared a request for donations through an online wish list.
Meanwhile, Campbell County Animal Services sent a callout in November for donations.
“Our kennels have been pretty full lately. As a result, our dogs have really done a number on our food supply,” the shelter wrote online. “So we are kindly asking the community for dry dog food donations. Since the shelter is already a stressful environment and eating lower quality food can contribute GI issues, we please ask you to consider donating one of these (or other similar quality) budget friendly brands.”
They shared their Amazon wish list, though more than a month later, many items have yet to be purchased. Several listings show the shelter needs 20 bags of food but has received five or fewer.
In Boone County, the Boone County Animal Shelter put out a call for cat litter in early December, also sharing an Amazon wish list. The Boone County Animal Shelter is also in the process of building a new location near England-Idlewild Park.
The shelter also operated a special that allowed residents to donate toys to children for Christmas and have their pet adoption fee waived in exchange.
Animal shelters in the region typically post their needs through their Facebook pages, and adoptable animals are shared through social media and petfinder.com.