LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) – The Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center is among many shelters across the country that participate in this national adoption campaign: Clear the Shelters.
And for places like Gregg County, with increasingly growing intake numbers, the event couldn’t come at a better time.
“In my dream world, I wouldn’t have a job,” Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center Executive Director Jenna George said. “In a dream world, we would be in such a good place in Texas in general for animal welfare that there is not a need for large facilities at all.”
Since August 1, Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center has taken in 228 animals — not counting the population they already had.
“We tend to stay at capacity pretty much every day,” George said.
George said reasons for the high intake include a lack of spay and neutering — as well as an increasing number of pet surrenders.
“Finances are hard, the economy is tough,” George said. “We are running into cases where it is so unfortunate, but people are having to decide between their pets and paying a bill.”
George said the increasing intake outpaces the number of adoptions.
Around 38% of animals taken in since the start of the month have been adopted, between May and July there were 383 adoptions.
“Right now we’re having a really weird funk where we’re seeing animals sit for weeks and months on end before anyone chooses to come in and adopt them,” George said.
Some concerns center around medical care costs for new pets — but Cody Stephenson said that’s what drew him to the shelter.
After adopting a cat today, he said his mind is worry free.
“They’re already spayed or neutered. Already got the shots. It’s already kind of adapted and 2-3 months old. Everything’s taken care of. It’s convenient,” Stephenson said.
Currently, the center has around 80 pets available for adoption.
Saturday’s Clear the Shelter event hopes to beat last year’s record of 32 adoptions.
“This year we are hoping to match that. We would prefer to beat it. All we can hope for is the privilege to be absolutely exhausted with all the kennels cleared,” George said.
The Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center is waiving adoption fees and letting new pet owners ‘pay what you want’.
The event lasts from 12-5pm on Saturday.
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