Lee County pet adoption campaign aims to get pets ‘Home 4 the Holidays’
Lee County Domestic Animal Services will join thousands of pet shelters and adoption centers across the United States, Canada and Mexico, for “Home 4 the Holidays 2016,” a national event organized to raise awareness of the joys of owning shelter-adopted pets.
During December, Animal Services’ goal is to empty the shelter of all pets by having them adopted into life-long homes by Dec. 23. The adoption fees for cats and kittens will be discounted to $10 and $20, respectively. The adoption fee for specially marked dogs will be reduced as well. Adopters will receive a free gift with each adoption while supplies last.
The adoption fee for all pets includes spay/neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, flea treatment, de-worming, a heartworm test for dogs six months or older, feline AIDS and leukemia tests for cats, a Lee County license for pets three months or older, Behavior Help Line, Microchip Pet ID, and a 10-day Health Guarantee. The total adoption package is valued at more than $500.
In the past, some shelters have discouraged families from adopting pets during the holidays. However, without the option to adopt, many chose to support the puppy mill industry. As always, Animal Services works to match the needs of the pets with the lifestyles of the families regardless of the time of year.
Adoption hours at Animal Services are 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The shelter will be closed Dec. 24 and 31. For more information call 533-7387 (LEE-PETS). Pet information and pictures of pets available for adoption can be viewed online at www.LeeLost-Pets.com. Adoption applications also may be submitted online. The website updates hourly.
The shelter is located at 5600 Banner Drive, just off Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Parkway, in South Fort Myers.