Shelter adoption fees halved for holidays
Adoption fees have been reduced by half at the Madera County animal shelter in an effort to get all the animals a new home for the holidays.
The special prices are now $55 for puppies or dogs, and $35 for kittens or cats, and includes the spay or neuter, vaccinations, and even a microchip ID. The special is funded by the Friends of the Madera Shelter volunteer group and runs through the end of the year.
Shelter director Kirsten Gross invites residents to come out to the shelter and see the animals for themselves.
”We have lots of nice animals to choose from. Large and small breeds, shepherds, huskys, bully mixes, terriers and smaller mixed breeds that all make great companion animals.”
Gross also said the influx of homeless animals wasn’t slowing down and the shelter and foster volunteers were especially in need of donations for puppy and kitten milk replacer, and canned cat and dog food, for all the puppies and kittens that were ending up at the shelter right at this cold and rainy time of year.
“Too many animals in Madera are not spayed or neutered and are being allowed to breed locally,” Gross said, “That results in many more animals than local homes that want them. It’s a huge problem, and we can’t do enough to find homes for them all. Spaying and neutering is the answer to the local over population problem.”
The shelter non profit partner group, Friends of the Madera Animal Shelter, (FMAS) has provided low cost spay and neuter, and all kinds of other services for many thousands of local residents and their animals in the last 18 years.
“Of course, we can always use more volunteers and more foster homes to care for the homeless animals in their homes if they have the time and the space,” Gross said. “If you can’t volunteer (with FMAS), your donation helps us in many ways. We provide low cost shot clinics and spay and neuter services for Madera residents, provide veterinary care for injured and sick animals, and our volunteers even drive many homeless animals out of state to places that have shortages of animals, like the Washington and Oregon Humane Societies,” Gross said. “But we really need the public’s help to continue with all that.”
Tax deductible donations can be mailed to FMAS, PO Box 923, Madera, CA 93638, dropped off in person at 14269 Road 28, or made on Facebook at: Friends of Madera Animal Shelter page.
A partial list of available animals can be view on their Facebook page and adoption hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Did you know…
From July to September, Madera County Animal Services responded to 844 service requests, licensed 618 dogs, removed 770 dead animals from roadways, and impounded 1,483 stay, injured and owned animals, according to director Kirsten Gross.
Partnered with Friends of the Madera Animal Shelter, the agency found homes for 263 dogs, 291 cats, and took 446 dogs and cats to rescue groups in other areas and other states.
FMAS also provided 757 vaccines, and enabled the distribution of 570 low-income spay and neuter vouchers. In all, $60,000 was spent on spay and neuter services and emergency veterinary care.
