This past weekend’s animal adoption between the Emporia Animal Shelter and The Buck Fund didn’t fare well, but the Emporia Animal Shelter’s manager said she hopes an upcoming event will make up for it.
Fewer than 20 people showed up for Saturday afternoon’s event, which was held in C of E Park. The team effort between the animal shelter and the Buck Fund was done to promote pet adoption and fitness.
“The animal adoption wasn’t that great,” said Rachel Parris, animal shelter manager. “It was just short notice, nobody really knew.”
No animals from the Emporia Animal Shelter were adopted on Saturday, one was adopted on Sunday, but wasn’t a result of the event.
“I think if we do it again next year, we’ll give more advanced notice,” Parris said.
Michelle Cooper of the Buck Fund said they had one adoption come through from the event and they have a few more applications out.
“It was really fun,” Cooper said. “We had a lot of people walk the dogs for their exercise.”
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Pet Adoption
Pet adoption was the focus of a team effort by the Emporia Animal Shelter and the Buck Fund.
Despite last weekend’s disappointment, Parris said a recent drive at Wal-Mart, trick or treat for the animals, did very well. Animal shelter personnel were stationed at each Wal-Mart door and shoppers drew an item out of a pumpkin and went in and bought the item.
“We got a ton of cat litter,” Parris said. “We are set on kitten food for like five months.”
The animal shelter also got lots of puppy food, lots of toys and rawhides and some cat beds.
“Our cats are loving them right now,” Parris said.
Parris also said she is looking forward to an event this Saturday, an open house to celebrate National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the animal shelter, 1216 Hatcher, located just south of the Coca-Cola, De Bauge Brothers building off 15th street. Bobby D’s barbecue will be served to the first 80 people. A $5 donation is requested. Tickets for the drawing are $1 and may be purchased at the shelter, from volunteers or at Emporia Fitness.
Proceeds of the open house will go toward medical care of the animals as well as improvements to the shelter. Parris said that eventually, she would like to see the shelter add on a room, where animals can be spayed and neutered on site. It will cost about $15,000 to $20,000 to add a small sterile room, Parris said.
“It’s a long shot, but it would be nice to have a veterinarian here at the shelter a few times a week,” Parris said. “We are a long way financially from getting that $15,000 to build that addition, but we’re working on it.”
November also kicks off the Iams Home for the Holidays pet adoption drive. According to a press release from Iams, the drive’s goal, which is a global drive, is to have more than 350,000 families welcome furry friends in the Emporia area and around the globe during this year’s drive.
This year, Emporia’s animal shelters and the Helen Woodward Animal Center will team with more than 2,000 animal shelters to encourage prospective pet parents to take a shelter pet home for the holidays. The drive will take place from Nov. 6 to Jan. 2.