By BOB OLIVER
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — The Dearborn Animal Shelter is packed to capacity with dogs and in response it is offering a special deal to make room for more animals in the cages.
The “50-50 special” offers prospective adopters a $50 adoption fee and a $50 voucher for the pet’s first veterinary visit for selecting a dog that has been at the shelter for 31 days or more.
All adoption fees include sterilization, microchip, age appropriate vaccinations and, according to the DAS, “a lifetime of loyalty and tail wagging.”
Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter Executive Director Elaine Greene said the voucher is good for one year, which gives the adopter options of how they would choose to use it.
“The dogs have had their vaccinations to date, so most of them will probably be covered for the next year,” Greene said. “But the voucher could also be used for heart-worm preventative in the spring or if another health issue comes up.”
The DAS, 2661 Greenfield Road, housed 2,789 dogs and cats last year, with an average daily population of 50 dogs and 132 cats and an additional 103 total animals in foster care.
Greene said the capacity for dogs at the DAS at one time is 65, which is what they currently have.
“This is a situation that is urgently in need of relief,” Greene said. “We’ve been having some difficulty in placing dogs in a timely manner and we need to keep cages available for incoming dogs.”
Nearly half of the 65 dogs have been at the shelter for at least 31 days.
Greene also that the holidays is the perfect time for the introduction of an animal into a new home.
“There are people that will be spending the holidays by themselves and bringing an animal into their homes will brighten their season,” Greene said. “You love a dog and that love is given right back to you. It can improve your health because you’ll not only be happier, but you can also get exercise walking and playing with the dog.”
Greene said the expectation is to run the special through December, but that it will continue until the dog population returns to a manageable number.
To learn more about adoption, volunteering, donating or events, contact the Dearborn Animal Shelter at 313-943-2697 or go to www.dearbornanimals.com.
(Bob Oliver can be reached at [email protected].)