Adopt Don’t Shop
Find Your “Fur-Ever” Best Friend
This Weekend at the Tractor Supply Adoption Event
Gwen Akers
The Ashland Beacon
“Adopt don’t shop” is a slogan so many of us have heard, but how many of us truly understand what this slogan is about? Holly Reihs, Vice President of the Humane Society of Lawrence County Ohio, works closely with the Lawrence County Ohio Animal Shelter to educate citizens and expose them to the positive impacts of this slogan and you get to encounter few cute animals along the way.
Now, citizens of the Ashland and Boyd County areas can experience this for themselves, as the Humane Society of Lawrence County Ohio and animal shelter will partner with Tractor Supply in Russell, Ky. on Saturday, August 10. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., representatives from the Humane Society and the animal shelter will host an Adoption Event, featuring cats and dogs from the shelter needing adoption. Adoption fees for dogs will be $80 and $25 for cats.
Donations will also be taken at this event for the other animals at the shelter. High need items such as bleach, Dawn dish soap, dog shampoo and grain free cat and dog food will be greatly appreciated. Donations of dog leashes, collars, towels, blankets, food/water bowels, and toys are always appreciated as well.
According to Reihs, this event is far from the first that the Humane Society has orchestrated. After a successful adoptions event at Tractor Supply earlier in the year, they knew it was time to give new animals a chance at finding their fur-ever home. Reihs, who has served as Vice President since April of this year, noted that adoptions have been hitting an all-time low. Usually the shelter has from 30 to 50 dogs and 20 to 40 cats that need homes, with calls bringing more animals at a rising rate.
By having these events, the Humane Society hopes to educate the community on the importance of “adopting” and giving these animals a home rather than simply “shopping” for their future pets. “It's important to remind the community that this is something that happens, that it's a service that's there and it’s really important for us to be there because when they [people] do become in that position to adopt, they think about the shelter and know they've got an option here.” Reihs explained.
These events are all about simply getting these animals out into the community and allowing for people to become involved in helping these animals – whether volunteering at the event, donating items for the event or adopting an animal themselves. In the past, the Humane Society has worked closely with volunteers from local youth groups, sports teams and more who are interested in volunteering at these events and are always looking for more volunteers.
“I would say that events are what I really like to do. For me, it's a lot of fun to be at events, just advertising and just letting people know that we’re here.” Reihs expressed.
Reihs stressed that these events are all about helping the community and helping them through the process of adoption and pet ownership. The shelter even offers a foster to adopt program, which lets people foster animals for a period before they decide to adopt that animal.
To find out more information about the Lawrence County Ohio Animal Shelter or the Humane Society, you can go to their adoption event this coming Saturday at the Tractor Supply located at 445 Diederich Blvd. For further information, you can also attend the Humane Society’s monthly meetings on the last Monday of each month in Ironton, Ohio. To volunteer, you can contact them on Facebook or at P.O. Box 412 Ironton, Oh 45638.
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