The animal shelter in Forsyth County is asking the community to adopt or foster animals, as space in the shelter is nearing maximum capacity.
Adoption rates have reportedly slowed, decreasing by approximately 10% when compared to last year's adoption numbers. This year alone, 312 animals have been adopted. Now, the shelter is housing 50 dogs and puppies and 180 cats and kittens.
“When shelters reach capacity and adoptions slow, it is even more challenging to provide the quality care that each animal deserves,” Animal Shelter Manager Cindy Iacopella said. “Forsyth County has always been a very pet-friendly community, and we are urging residents to open their homes to animals in need so we can continue to rescue, reunite and rehome animals.”
For those who adoption isn’t an option, another way to assist the county is through fostering an animal.
The foster program allows residents to take home a dog or cat as they wait to be fully adopted by someone else. Requirements to join the fostering program include having a “safe and loving home,” as well as having time to care for the animal.
“We're hitting a critical spot where we've reached capacity and adoptions slow, it's even more challenging than ever to provide quality care that the animals that are there deserve,” Forsyth County Communications Assistant Director Amanda Roper said. “And the animal shelter makes it really easy to come by and check out their pets that are there and to adopt pets.”
The shelter provides all the basic supplies that fostered animals need, including food, medication, kennels, toys and animal-specific care instructions.
Fees for animal adoptions have been completely waived for the summer until Sept. 6, according to Roper.
To learn more about the Forsyth County Animal Shelter’s policies, as well as to view a list of available pets, visit their online website.
