Dakin ‘clears the shelter’ in special adoption event

Aug. 17, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Adoption rates fro small pets, such as rabbits, will be discounted on April 19 at the Dakin Humane Soceity. Reminder Publications submitted photo



SPRINGFIELD – Looking for a small pet or an adult cat? Dakin Humane Society has a deal for you this Saturday.

Dakin is participating in a nation-wide event sponsored by NBC/Universal  – and locally by WWLP-22 News  – called “Clear the Shelters” to find permanent homes for a number of animals currently housed in its two shelters in Springfield and Leverett.

Lee Chambers, manager of Marketing & Communications, explained to Reminder Publications the goal is to find pet parents for small animals such as rabbits, birds, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, mice, rats and birds, based on availability, as well as selected adult cats by offering a 50 percent discount in adoption fees on Aug. 19.

Dakin’s Springfield Adoption & Education Center will be open 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. that day, while its Leverett Adoption Center will be open 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

She explained the shelter sees an increase in cat populations in spring and summer when litters are born and that many people opt for wanting to adopt a kitten instead of an adult cat.

Some of the adult cats “have been here for a while “ and this special effort is to find them loving homes, she added.

“Summers are usually a challenge,” with increases in shelter populations, she added.

While Chambers said Dakin might not have all of the small animals included in the campaign at any one time, the population “can change in a heartbeat” with new animals coming into the shelter.

She noted the fees for adoption vary from animal to animal, but the usual fees are $60 for rabbits, which include a spaying or neutering; hamsters, $15; gerbils, $15; ferrets, $85; and guinea pigs, $30. These fees will be cut in half for this special event.

For cats, the regular fees vary from cat to cat and they range normally from $59 to $199, Chambers added. The differences in adoption fees are based on the age and the health concern of the cat.

Dakin officials advise potential pet parents to speak to their landlords before coming to make sure pets are welcomed in a rental unit, have a carrier in order to bring home a new pet and to allow about 30 minutes for the completion of paperwork.

Dakin’s Executive Director Carmine DiCenso said, “Clear the Shelters is a terrific program that raises awareness about the importance of pet adoption, “It also helps with the overcrowding issues that adoption centers typically experience in the summer months because of spring and summer litters being born.”

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