Adopt-a-thon to continue despite lower turnout

Despite a lower turnout on July 7, Rainbow District Animal Shelter will continue with its adopt-a-thons, according to Richard Paquette Jr.

A total of eight animals were adopted through the most recent event, he said. He credited the decrease in visitors to all of the events happening in the city on the same day, as well as warm and sunny weather.

For the next adopt-a-thon, Paquette and his staff are hoping for more inclement weather, he said. At the first adopt-a-thon in June, it rained and homes were found for 14 dogs and seven cats. It was estimated that 300 people attended that first event.

“Two dogs were adopted on Sunday by people who visited the shelter on Saturday, but needed time to think about it,” Paquette said. “We had five or six adult cats that are already fixed, and we weren't able to move any of them.”

The next adopt-a-thon has already been scheduled for Aug. 18, where the shelter will again waive adoption fees for cats and dogs. All it will cost to take home a new family member is a municipal licence, he said.

Further to that, Rainbow District Animal Shelter is revamping its adoption package for felines that will include both vaccination and spay or neuter. The adoption fees for male cats will be $100, while the adoption fee for females will be $160.

“We're pretty much going to be giving them away,” Paquette said.

The Shelter also promotes the adoption efforts of Small Things: Cats and Books, which offers fixed, friendly shelter cats ranging in price from $15 to $75. At any given time, there are 10 to 12 felines ready for adoption, he said.

Small Things: Cats and Books, located at 253-B Hazel St., also offers the ElderCats program, where mature and shy cats are free. People on fixed incomes are also provided a free start-up kit.

“This is an even better deal,” than what is available through Rainbow District Animal Shelter, Paquette said.

For more information about the shelter and to view animals up for adoption, visit gsshelter.ca. For more information about Small Things, visit smallthings.ca.

Posted by Arron Pickard