Dogs, cats, kittens, puppies and other adorable creatures will fill the Huron Valley Humane Society Sept. 29 in celebration of their first ever fall Adopt-a-thon. Fall is one of the busiest times of the year at the Huron Valley Humane Society and their staff is working in full force to reach their goal of 100 adoptions.
“We try and check up on as many potential homes as we can before winter hits, because then it gets a lot harder for the animals on the street,” Deb Kern, marketing director at HVHS, said.
The Adopt-a-thon event will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m at the HVHS, located at 3100 Cherry Hill Road in Ann Arbor, and will include discounted adoption fees on all animals. Additionally, prizes will be awarded to every adopter, educational sessions on pet care, volunteering, animal rescue and animal wellness will be offered, as well as free snacks and beverages and kids’ activities. There will be 160 pets available for adoption that day, including 100 kittens.
“We are holding an ‘adopt one, get one free’ deal,” Kern said. “Because when two kittens grow up together and learn from each other, and enjoy each other’s company, then they will be much happier. If you have the time and the space, adopting a pair is the way to go.”
The animals are all prepped and ready to be adopted, which means they have had their sterilization surgery, medical and behavioral exams and are all equipped with a painless microchip ID. Your chosen furry companion will be ready to go from the very day you fall in love with each other.
Through the festive nature of the event, HVHS aspires to emphasize their mission statement as a friendly animal adoption agency. As of 2009, the HVHS has been working in a brand new facility.
“This is an exciting time for us … The remodeling was in effort to shed the ‘pound mentality’ people might have about our shelter,” Kern said. “Adoption should be fun. You’re bringing a family member home, and it is very important to us to stress that anyone who is looking for a pet should make adoption a first option.”
There are some false preconceived notions that float around about adopting animals. One of these misconceptions is that the animals are given up because of some undesirable behavior patterns, but as Kern explained, most often that’s not the case.
“Some people think that if they get a dog from the shelter then it means that the animal is sick or mad. This isn’t the case,” she said. “Most of the animals in our shelter are owner relinquished, which means that because of the state of the economy, the owner could no longer afford to keep the pet. Many, many of the animals here haven’t ever had homes, and they just need a place to live and a family to love them.”
Animals that do have an illness or anti-social behavior are cared for by a foster family who work with the animal to facilitate healthier temperaments.
Thinking about adopting but not sure how to go about it? The HVHS also offers a counseling service that can walk you through every step of the adoption process, from finding the right fit for you to instructions on how to properly care for the animal. If you’re ready to adopt, thinking about adopting or just want to be in a building with 100 kittens, the Adopt-a-thon is the place to be.
