Vets, County Animal Shelter Partner for Holiday Rescue

Posted on: Dec 15th, 2011 | Announcements

In the last two days, three boxes of abandoned puppies were delivered to the Mobile County Animal Shelter: a box of beagle mix puppies from a vacant house, one box of lab mix puppies found on the side of the road, another of black lab mixes from Semmes. ?It?s a typical week,? said Sarah Tenon, Animal Shelter Supervisor of the county shelter, which will take in more than 7,200 animals this year. To make sure the animals have a chance at a home for the holidays, the county and local veterinarians are teaming up to do required neutering and spaying ahead of adoptions. That means that anyone wanting to adopt some of the animals between now and Christmas won?t have to wait to get the animals into their homes. The last Saturday adoption event before the new year will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 7665 Howells Ferry Road. ?We actually were approached by some of the veterinarians who will be off for the holidays,? said Tenon. ?They will go ahead and spay and neuter many of the animals ahead of a confirmed adoption and get reimbursed if they are adopted. This will be a big help and much needed.? By policy, the shelter will not release animals until they have been spayed or neutered. Mobile County Commissioner Mike Dean praised the veterinarians for ?their commitment to the welfare of abandoned animals in need of advocates.? Mobile County Commission President Connie Hudson noted that the partnership is critical to the success of the animal shelter. ?They make it possible to place so many more of our animals,? she said. Citizen volunteers from local rescue groups also are essential to the success of the shelter. ?They provide the manpower we need for Saturday adoption events,? noted Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. There are more than 50 animals in adoption today at the Mobile County Animal Shelter. The shelter is open for adoptions from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, except for Christmas and New Years weekends.