HomeVoorhees NewsFour-legged adoptions

Four-legged adoptions

By KRISTEN DOWD

The Voorhees Sun

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The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are between six and eight million cats and dogs entering animal shelters each year. About half of these animals will be adopted.

The other half is not so lucky.

“You’re truly saving a life by coming to an animal shelter,” said Christine Todd, director at the Animal Orphanage. “It’s giving these animals a second chance.”

Voorhees is home to two animal shelters — the Animal Orphanage on Cooper Road and, just over a mile away, the Animal Welfare Association (AWA) on Centennial Boulevard. Although the facilities are separate entities, the shelters support one another, too. After all, they’re both working toward the same ultimate goal — adoption.

AWA Executive Director Maya Richmond feels fortunate to be located in Voorhees, a community she calls “very animal-centric.”

She urges people to check out the local shelters.

“There’s a lot of variety at shelters. Usually animals are not there for their own issues — they’re there from life circumstances,” Richmond said. “If your pet isn’t here today, there will definitely be one here tomorrow or the next day.”

While shelters are going to ensure they are making the best match they can between pets and new owners, there are also not a lot of barriers to break down with animal adoption.

“At the end of the day, it’s making adoptions,” said AWA Director of Shelter Services Betsy Ransome. “The more you adopt, the more you save.”

Richmond said the AWA has a very non-judgmental adoption approach, spending a lot of time talking with potential adopters to learn what they’re looking for in a new four-legged family member.

It’s the same at the Animal Orphanage.

“We’re trying to help the best we can,” said Todd. “We want to match that animal with the right family.”

There’s a plethora of pets to choose from at the shelters, which are both considered no-kill, meaning adoptable animals are not euthanized. In addition to medical exams, animals are also tested for temperament before being adopted. All animals are spayed or neutered before going to new homes, too.

“Spaying and neutering is just so, so important. People don’t understand how important it is,” said Todd.

Richmond and Todd both remarked on “kitten season” starting, meaning the shelters will take in hundreds (and hundreds) of kittens over the next few months. Thanks to strong networks of foster homes, the shelters will be able to find homes for most.

The idea of more than a thousand kittens in one town is staggering, but to put the spay and neuter importance into even more perspective are statistics from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. If an unspayed female cat produces three litters of 4.5 kittens in one year, and supposing each of these kittens reproduces at the same rate, and so on, all while the original cat continues to reproduce, this will result in over 90 million kittens in seven years.

The AWA has a spay and neuter clinic Monday through Friday, averaging 28 dogs and 36 to 38 cats a day. Twice a month, the shelter hosts a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program to educate the public.

“Our focus here is a lot on adoption, but also on prevention,” said Richmond, noting the AWA works to educate the public on overpopulation, abandonment and finding solutions to such problems.

The AWA and Animal Orphanage know it’s not always easy to get a pet adopted. Sometimes, animals are overlooked for no apparent reason, creating a challenge for the staff to get this cat or dog noticed.

“It’s our responsibility to find them homes. That will give us a space for another animal,” Richmond said.

She recalled one great dog that, for one reason or another, was being easily overlooked by potential adopters. In trying to figure out how to bring attention to this canine, the staff put an open umbrella at the back of his kennel. It drew attention, spurred conversation and, eventually, landed this pooch his new home.

“You have to draw in the public to find the right fit,” said Richmond.

There are steps the shelters take before and after adoption to ensure a happy home for new families. The Animal Orphanage is thankful for the expertise of board member and volunteer Christine Nolan, a professional dog trainer. Nolan helps squelch problem behaviors in adoptable pets.

At AWA, follow-up phone calls are a big part of the adoption process. This gives an opportunity to see how the new pet is settling into a home and if there are any problems along the way.

“Through that phone call, we can resolve the issue and redirect the training,” said Ransome. “In most cases, (families) all want to do the right thing, they’re just not sure how.”

Social networking has created a new, free way for shelters to publicize their animals, too. Both the AWA and Animal Orphanage utilize Facebook, where they post adoption stories, highlight adoptable pets and advertise for upcoming fundraisers.

It’s also another way to educate the community on the importance of adoption which, to Richmond, is an easy choice.

“You’re talking about happiness. You’re talking about companionship,” she said. “It sells itself when you come in here.”

The Animal Orphanage is located at 419 Cooper Road, Voorhees, and can be reached by calling (856) 627–9111. Visit the Animal Orphanage online at www.theanimalorphanage.org.

On Saturday, April 28, the shelter will host its sixth annual Wag n’ Walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Connolly Park.

The Animal Welfare Association is located at 509 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, and can be reached by calling (856) 424–2288. Visit the AWA online at www.awanj.org. On Saturday, May 19, the AWA hosts Paws & Feet at Cooper River Park, including a 5K race, a walk and a mutt mingle.

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