LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock Animal Services sent eight cats, 58 dogs, 30 chickens, four lizards and one gerbil to new homes during an event this year aimed at clearing out the shelter.
Each year, Lubbock Animal Services tries to clear its shelter with just one event.
Assistant Director Taylor Ruggles said the event helped reduce the shelter’s population.
“It really helped with our population,” Ruggles said. “And any animal that goes out allows another animal off of the streets to come in.”
Ruggles said the shelter’s population is now around 264 animals, and that number could go up at a moment’s notice because of a high stray count.
Each year, Lubbock Animal Services tries to clear its shelter with just one event.(KCBD Video)
“When we assess population, one thing we take into account is capacity for care, which is how much care and attention do the animals need and is our staff able to support that,” Ruggles said. “Right now we’re at a pretty good level where we still have space for more animals to come in, but our staff isn’t overwhelmed with having to care for too many animals and they’re still able to get as much enrichment and attention as they need and deserve.”
Fostering and volunteer opportunities
Ruggles said the event led to 101 adoptions. She said it also let people sign up to foster animals and join what the shelter calls “Doggy Day Outs.”
“It draws a bigger crowd than who necessarily comes here on a daily basis,” Ruggles said. “So people that have never been to the shelter before are walking through for the first time and they’re seeing other things that volunteers are doing.”
The shelter’s goal is for it to never be an animal’s forever home. Lubbock Animal Services wants every animal to find a home that’s safe and loving.
“So at the end of the day with this job, you know you’re making a difference in the community,” Ruggles said. “You’re helping an animal’s life. It shows that all of our hard work is paying off.”
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