Orange County Animal Services is feeling the pressure as they strive to provide shelter for an overwhelming number of stray and surrendered pets. The shelter has stepped forward to announce a special "Christmas in July" adoption event taking place this weekend, which aims to find homes for the animals in their care. OCAS is waiving all adoption fees for pets on Saturday, July 20, and Sunday, July 21, in response to the recent influx which has sharply pushed the occupancy beyond their usual capacity, according to Orange County Animal Services.
The impetus behind the fee-waived adoptions is the steady decline in adoption rates and reclaiming interest. The shelter has had to rapidly try and adapt to care for more than 200 dogs over the last few weeks alone. "It's been a challenging not just for us but all the shelters around us as we've seen adoption and reclaim interest wane," Diane Summers, Manager for Orange County Animal Services, expressed the situation's gravity.
However, adoption is only one solution to the problem. OCAS is also reaching out to the community, requesting that residents who happen to find stray pets to attempt locate their owners before bringing them to already crowded shelters. Evidence suggests that most lost pets are never far from home and that the owner may endlessly be more likely to find their missing companion if it hasn't been whisked away to the shelter. "Data shows that most missing pets are within a quarter mile of home and that bringing them to the shelter could reduce their chance of being reunited with their family," Summers explained, as per OCAS.
Orange County Animal Services has provided information on its website to facilitate the adoption process and provide guidance for residents finding stray pets.
