Animal shelter hopes for more owners

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Photo by Ryan Waggoner

Quinn Reilly, Overland Park junior gets ready to take a walk with Annie, a seven year old lab, at the Lawrence Humane Society last fall. The Humane Society was over crowded with animals this past summer.

The Lawrence Humane Society is overflowing with animals from the summer season and is desperate for relief, according to shelter staff.

The shelter has approximately 800 animals, including cats, dogs and guinea pigs. As a response, the shelter has waived the $50 adoption fee for August in hopes of attracting potential owners.

Kraig Johnson, Lawrence Humane Society employee, said the surge in animals was usual during the summer months.

“I think some of it is seasonal,” he said. “Traditionally, it spikes this time of year.”

Johnson said although it was common to have more homeless animals during the summer, other factors have worsened the situation. In particular, an increase in people returning their animals to the Humane Society contributed greatly to the overload. He said the recession made animal care too expensive.

“The economy is certainly a paying factor,” he said. “People simply can’t afford to keep their animals, so I think that’s had an impact on us.”

By waiving the $50 adoption fee, buyers would only have to pay to spay and neuter the animals, which would cost $60 for a dog and $40 for a cat, according to the Society’s Web site.

Stacy Rachow, Phillipsburg senior, said she wanted to adopt someday, but that her schedule and living situation wouldn’t allow for it now.

“I want to get a dog eventually,” she said.” “But I wouldn’t consider it during college because I don’t want it to be in a cage all the time. I don’t think I’d be doing it a favor.”

Johnson said he recognized that college students were not always in good financial or living situations to adopt, but that helping in other ways was just as important.

“You can always volunteer,” he said. “We always need people to socialize the animals, exercise them.”

Ashley Wills, Overland Park senior and volunteer, said the Humane Society was flexible with anyone who could help.

“You can come and go whenever you want,” she said. “I can’t have a dog, so this is how I get my dog fix.”

The Lawrence Humane Society also accepts donations from the community, such as towels, detergent and blankets, among other things. A full list of needed items can be found on the shelter’s Web site, www.lawrencehumane.org.

— — Edited by Anna Kathagnarath

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