Local Humane Society participating in one of the country's largest pet adoption events this month – Harbor Light

Friday, July 15, 2022
By Harbor Light News Staff | on July 13, 2022
Annie, seven-year-old Retriever mix, and Connor, a five-year-old hound mix, currently at Little Traverse Bay Humane society hoping to find homes during Empty the Shelters (Courtesy photos)
This week begins one of the largest pet adoption events throughout the country.
“Empty the Shelters” is a national event sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. This summer’s event will run from July 11-July 31 and offer reduced-fee adoptions at over 250 shelters and rescues in 42 different states, including Little Traverse Bay Humane Society (LTBHS) here in Harbor Springs.
Currently, animal shelters across the country are in crisis and adoptable pets are at risk due to unprecedented overcrowding.
“Shelters are calling me daily and BISSELL Pet Foundation is feeling the burden of overcrowding,” Cathy Bissell, Founder of BISSELL Pet Foundation, said. “With the euthanasia of homeless dogs up 22-percent in just the first quarter of 2022 alone, we knew we had to act quickly to help at-risk pets. Empty the Shelters is the largest funded adoption event in the country, and by extending the event to three weeks, we can help meet the immediate need to save lives.”
Little Traverse Bay Humane Society located on West Conway Road. (Courtesy photo)
This crisis is a national one but hits close to home as well.
“Animal shelters nationally are dealing with a crisis of having too many animals needing homes and not enough people coming to adopt them,” Danielle Blasko, Executive Director at Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, said. “It’s hard to say exactly why this has happened. Many speculate that the overpopulation in shelters is due to “pandemic puppies” being returned to shelters after being adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Others argue that data doesn’t back that up. This could be due to lack of animal friendly housing, or housing in general, cost of veterinary and animal care increasing, or general changes in lifestyle. What we can speak to is the fact that yes, we have taken in more owner surrenders this year than years past.”
Across the country animals are being surrendered and the shelters are stretched beyond capacity. Bissell has seen this first-hand as she travels to numerous shelters all over the United States.
One-and-half year-old domestic shorthair mix cat, shelter animal currently at Little Traverse Bay Humane Society hoping to find homes during Empty the Shelters. (Courtesy photo)
“What we are hearing and seeing is that many people don’t want to surrender their family pet, but due to the cost of living, they are faced with the difficult decision to give up a pet they love because they don’t have any other options,” Bissell said. “The cost of living has gone up. The cost of housing is very high, and it’s tough to find a place that will take pets. It’s tough to even find affordable care for pets right now. It’s hard for people to find an affordable vet. It’s just really rough. So we’re seeing a lot more animals in the shelters. And we’re seeing it happen all over the country at the same time. And that’s what’s making it so difficult. The shelters that used to be able to help relieve some of the overcrowded shelters are now equally crowded themselves.”
Spring and summer have always been a time for shelters to experience an increase in puppies and kittens but this year there is an added abundance.
“There is a backlog of puppies and kittens in shelters right now,” Bissell said. “They’re just so many of them, more than ever. So if people are looking for puppies, they should look no further than a shelter. There are so many puppies available.”
And there are so many good adult dogs waiting for new families as well.
“What people have to remember, the most important thing, is that the animals at the shelter are highly adoptable,” Bissell said. “They’re family pets. And they’re wonderful. There are so many beautiful, beautiful pets at the shelter. And they aren’t being given up because people want to give them up. They’re being given up because they don’t have another option. So now we’re putting highly adoptable, wonderful family pets at risk. It’s so tragic.”
This recent crisis has led LTBHS to change course a bit in order to further support local animals and owners in need.
“As an agency, we have decided to prioritize these requests for local owner surrenders over out-of-state transfers, to help impact our local community and surrounding region,” Blasko said. “Before we accept surrendered animals, however, our first step is to determine if there is anything we can do to help keep the pet home with their people. We have been able to successfully defer intakes and keep pets in homes by offering consults with our trainer, crates, pet food, and veterinary care. We feel strongly that pets belong with the people who love them, and if we can help provide resources to keep families together and prevent surrender, it is a win for all. In general, animal shelter and rescue groups often see an increase in homeless pets during the Spring and Summer months, because of unaltered pets reproducing. We can all do our part in decreasing pet overpopulation by spaying and neutering our pets and ensuring they are not allowed to run loose.”
Shelters from all over are saying this same thing. Now more than ever, it is so important to spay, neuter and microchip pets in order to help alleviate the burden the shelters are experiencing.
And if adopting a pet isn’t feasible right now, volunteering can also have an enormous impact.
“Supporting shelters, volunteering, is really important because they are shortstaffed, they are tired and overwhelmed, and dealing with more pets than ever before,” Bissell said. “Going into your local shelter to pet the cats, walk the dogs, help with cleaning and laundry–that is really important right now. And fostering helps so much too. For people who may not be able to add a permanent dog to their family but could help in the short-term, fostering really helps animals. There is a lot of stress for dogs coming from a home into a shelter. They don’t understand and so being in a foster home is really fantastic and can help pets find homes faster, while also lessening the stress on the shelters. Being a volunteer in any capacity is so appreciated. Being a volunteer is rewarding and helpful at the same time. It’s good for the soul.”
But a forever home is still the best home. And as this adoption event gears up, BISSELL Pet Foundation hopes to get as many deserving pets as possible “from the kennels to the couches”.
Little Traverse Bay Humane Society asks that anyone looking for a pet, consider a local shelter dog.
Adoption fees for all adult dogs and cats will be waived during this three-week adoption event. Puppies and kittens are not included.
Like many shelters across the country right now, LTBHS is full of animals looking for loving homes. The organization is hoping to find homes for all of the animals in their care during this event in order to make kennel space for other animals in need.
The event will take place at the shelter located at 1300 West Conway Road in Harbor
Springs. The shelter is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. LTBHS is strongly encouraging interested individuals to submit an adoption application in advance in order to have the best chance of adopting the animal of their choice.
Little Traverse Bay Humane Society is a no-kill organization that rescues 500-plus dogs and cats each year. All shelter animals are spayed/neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated prior to adoption.
“We have no doubt that Empty the Shelters will help countless animals find new, loving homes across the country,” Blasko said. “Our shelter is full right now and we are hopeful that many, if not all, of our shelter residents will find wonderful families in the coming weeks. We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this life saving event.”
To learn more about Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, to view available animals, or to fill out an adoption application, please visit www.ltbhs.com.
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