Big Changes Coming For Animal Humane Society In 2011
By Susie Jones, NewsRadio 830 WCCO and Caroline Lowe, WCCO-TV
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Animal Humane Society announced changes for 2011 at all five of its locations in the Twin Cities, including Golden Valley, Coon Rapids, St Paul, Woodbury and Buffalo.
Starting on Jan. 2, they will be implementing a "Surrender By Appointment" system. This means if you decide to put your pet up for adoption at the Animal Humane Society, you are going to have to make an appointment and not just walk in and drop the pet off.
Janelle Dixon is the President and CEO of the Animal Humane Society. She says they hope the new system will help people keep their pets and offer better care to the animals they do keep and try to adopt.
Dixon said there is also going to be a cost saving component once the system is up and running.
"As we see fewer animals coming in for services and as we see more animals getting homes ... we change the amount of resources it takes for each animal to find a new family," she said.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Susie Jones Reports
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Under the new system, you will first talk with someone from the shelter on the phone about your concerns. They will make suggestions for other resources or other places to place your animal.
If you still want to place your pet for adoption, they will schedule a time for you to come in. The animal will be evaluated and get an exam without having to wait a few days, which is often the case now when they are very busy.
"We are prepared to receive that animal, we know why it's coming and when it's coming in and we can much more quickly to provide services to that pet," said Dixon.
The Animal Human Society officials modeled their new system after successful programs in several other cities, including San Diego and Portland, Oregon. Programs there reduced the number of homeless animals in their communities by thirty percent.
Last year, about 33,000 animals were brought to society's five shelters. About two-thirds were cats. To help reduce those numbers, the shelter plans to start a program this May for low and moderate income families to provide neutering and spaying services. The shelter also hopes to reduce euthanasia rates.
Appointments can be made starting Dec. 20 by calling (763) 412-4969.
Dixon said they will allow for a transition time for people to get used to the changes. Anyone with questions can visit the website by clicking here.
WCCO-TV's Caroline Lowe Reports
