By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
An overflow at the St. Joseph Animal Shelter only emphasizes the need for a new building.
It’s been a rough month for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter. Despite running several adoption events, with discounted adoption fees, the shelter is still full.
Friends of the Animal Shelter Melanie Barnes says the shelter is mostly full of older dogs and puppies.
“We think of the spring as kitten season, and yes we do have lots of kittens down there and there’s an event coming up to support that, but the kennels have just been crazy,” Barnes tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.
Barnes says that April has been so rough they have had to find creative ways to encourage adoption.
“They started on April 1st and 2nd, and they ran a shelter event of It’s Not an April Fool’s and all adoptions were $1,” Barnes says.
Barnes says a majority of the pets were adopted at that event, but less than a week later it was full again, and another event was held.
“They did essentially the Price is Right, and so they had specific pets maybe that had been down there for a while and overlooked, and if you were interested you could come in and play a Price is Right game and almost pick the price for adoptions,” Barnes explains.
Barnes says that event in the middle of the month saw a majority of pets adopted, but earlier this week.
“We got 40 dogs in one day, so this is the third adoption special trying to get pets out of the shelter because we’re constantly full,” Barnes says. “Just this last Tuesday and Wednesday, sticking with the game show theme, they did a Wheel of Fortune.”
Barnes says adoption fees on a wheel spin ranged from a $1 to around $50. Barnes indicates heading into May, it’s not slowing down.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
