The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter (WCRAS) recognizes August 21 as International Homeless Animal Day. Organizations around the world come together on the third Saturday of August to raise awareness about the pet overpopulation epidemic. All adoptions on this day are reduced to $25.
The team at WCRAS thinks it’s THE perfect day to make a difference in an animal’s life. It’s also a purr-fect opportunity to raise our community’s awareness about the wonderful cats and dogs who are waiting for homes at animal shelters like the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.
For the month of August, the adoption fee for dogs is $50.00, adult cats $25.00, and kittens under the age of one is $50.00 or 2/$75.00. Adoption includes spay/neuter, microchip, routine vaccinations, rabies, county license for County residents, and heartworm testing, age appropriate for the dogs and FeLV testing for the cats and kittens.
Our community has many homeless pets simply because there are not enough good homes for them. Our vision is to save every healthy and behaviorally sound companion animal and to save all dogs and cats that are medically treatable or can be behaviorally rehabilitated.
“It’s unbelievable how many animals are dropped off at shelters,” said WCRAS Animal Services Director Cheryl Schneider. “This could stop simply by fixing your pets and making a commitment for your pet’s lifetime.”
Nationally five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed because there is no one to adopt them. Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized. (Source: ASPCA) Although the average euthanasia rate at the WCRAS is way below the national average at 20%, it is a struggle each and every day to find room for the number of animals arriving.
Millions more cats and dogs never even make it to shelters. Historically, America's taxpayers bear the cost of picking up, housing and ultimately euthanizing these homeless animals. Nationally, the cost is estimated at $2 billion.
Although many of these animals are healthy and adoptable, the sheer number of them outweighs the availability of good homes. For instance, a single female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years; a female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in just six years.
This single day is recognized by many countries, but every day is homeless animal day for millions of cats and dogs throughout the world. Remember, fewer pets born equal the solution to pet homelessness.
The shelter is open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter is located at 1855 S.E. Inner Loop in Georgetown. To reach the shelter from IH-35, take Exit 259 and go east two miles. The shelter is located on the north side of the road just east of FM 1460. For more information, call 943-3322. Regular adoption fees are $75 which covers basic vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries, and a microchip. In addition, for dogs it will include heartworm screening and for cats FIV/FeLV testing.