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Influx of pets makes for big savings

Area shelters are reducing adoption costs and increasing free pre-adoption services.

Beauregard, an 8-year-old Bassett hound, barks while he snuggles under the wheelchair of his new owner Tricia Podmore as she and her daughter Allison wait to complete the adoption for the dog on Wednesday, July 22, at the Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton.

Staff photo by Pat Auckerman Beauregard, an 8-year-old Bassett hound, barks while he snuggles under the wheelchair of his new owner Tricia Podmore as she and her daughter Allison wait to complete the adoption for the dog on Wednesday, July 22, at the Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 12:56 PM Sunday, July 26, 2009

There are a lot of reasons to decide to adopt a pet. But for Donna Goins, it was getting a good deal that got her to make the commitment.

The Hamilton resident said her family never had a dog. However, after her daughter told her about the savings at Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton, Goins decided to consider a little addition.

The fact that Animal Friends will spay or neuter all animals, microchip, update all vaccinations and check for heartworm for dogs and feline leukemia for cats made a pet adoption very reasonable, she said.

Daisy, their new 9-month-old Dachshund-Chihuahua mix, sealed the deal.

“We couldn’t afford to do all of that ourselves,” she said. “It’s just so affordable this way. And my kids always wanted a little dog. They already want to buy her clothes and everything.”

Animal Friends

Just like many area shelters, Animal Friends is bursting at the seams with puppies and kittens during the summer months, said Meg Stephenson, executive director.

“We just have an influx of them on top of our other animals,” she said.

And since the shelter makes the point of never turning an animal away if it needs a safe haven, that makes for a lot of pets in need of a new home.

On top of the normally busy season that Animal Friends will be moving in August into its new location in Hamilton.

Tara Allen, kennel manager, said the shelter will be running special prices to try to adopt out as many animals as possible for the move.

“If we get them all adopted and in good homes before the move, then that’s good for us and them,” Stephenson said.

From Aug. 1-7, the standard fee for adopting adult dogs will be reduced to $50, and $32 for adult cats. The price for puppies during that week is $60, and $40 for kittens.

Adoptions also include 30 days of pet insurance and a small bag of Hill’s Science Diet pet food.

During other times of the year, the shelter will offer Buy One Get One Free specials on cats, holiday specials and even free adoption events through special partnerships with Hill’s Science Diet and PetSmart.

While Stephenson said adoption fees do not cover Animal Friends’ cost to care for the animals, it does help defray some of the costs for the shelter, which receives about 80,000 dogs and cats a year.

“We do what we do because we are passionate on animal welfare and making sure these animals are being provided the best care possible,” she said.

Tricia Podmore and her daughter Allison of Fairfield said they believe in adopting animals from a shelter, and Animal Friends “is one of the best shelters in the state, as far as I’m concerned,” Tricia Podmore said.

That, plus the affordablility, is why they adopted three dogs there, the latest being Beauregard, a 8-year-old basset hound.

“We would come up and look at the dogs all the time,” Tricia Podmore said. “They are well cared for.”

Humane Society of Warren County

It’s “Meow Madness” at the Humane Society of Warren County as the shelter offers kittens at $75, with half off second one. Cats also $45, said Mari Lee Schwarzwalder, executive director.

In addition, Special Star dogs are $90 each and include seven weeks of obedience training at the shelter for $30.

All adoption fees include spay and neuter, microchip, update all vaccinations and a check for heartworm for dogs and feline leukemia for cats as well as a free vet check and a carrier for cats or a leash for dogs.

Montgomery County Animal Resource Center

Kittens are Buy One Get One Free at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, making the total cost $60 for two. Carriers can be purchased for $5, said April Wheeler, clerical specialist with Montgomery County.

In addition, certain puppies are on sale for $116 and adult dogs are for $119.

“A lot of people are down on their luck. This helps them get a pet that’s affordable,” Wheeler said.

Shelter contact information

Animal Friends Humane Society: 5225 Trenton Road, Trenton, (513) 867-5727

Humane Society of Warren County: 230 Cook Road, Lebanon, (513) 261-1352

Progressive Animal Welfare Society: 2790 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Middletown, (513) 422-7297

Animal Adoption Foundation: 2480 Millville-Ross Road, Ross Twp., (513) 737-7387

Montgomery County Animal Resource Center: 6790 Webster St., Dayton, (937) 898-4457

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At least this way the dogs and cats have a chance. Shelters and rescues are overflowing so I see why they try this sort of "promotion".

And the fact that they are spayed and neutered helps a great deal. At least the pets from the shelter are not contributing to overpopulation.

MB

PS Make sure you get the right pet for you! I write about this at <a href="http://www.adopt-a-pet-you-will-lov...">www.adopt-a-pet-you-will-love.com</a>

MB
1:00 PM, 8/9/2009

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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Betty

http://smallpet.info

Betty
7:33 AM, 8/4/2009

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This is so true about the high cost of having a pet. Still, something has to be done about the exploding population of unwanted animals. Let's hope this method does bring in some responsible people. Also, I would like to mention there is PAWS, another adoption center, in Middletown.

Debbie
10:47 PM, 7/26/2009

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I completely agree with Kitty Katz and Mike. Donna Goins says, "We couldn’t afford to do all of that ourselves," referring to the vaccinations and screenings being done prior to adoption. Does she think medical costs will decrease or disappear over the life of little Daisy? Like all dog owners, I've spent thousands keeping my dog healthy--and I didn't adopt until I knew I'd be able to take care of a dog's potentially expensive health care. I hope for Daisy's sake that Ms. Goins is prepared.

Nic
1:47 PM, 7/26/2009

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Kitty Katz-

I couldn't agree more. If you are scrapping the funds together to make the initial purchase, you probably shouldn't make that purchase. The way I look at it is I need to have enough money available for each of my dogs to have at least one major vet appt each year. Thankfully, I've only ever had one major vet appt ever but the funds must be available so you can properly tend to your pets and ensure their health. No money... no pets.

Mike
12:46 PM, 7/26/2009

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