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By Madison Hart
InkFree News

WARSAW — The Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County and Fulton County Animal Center are offering reduced pet costs to encourage adoptions as they both continue at maximum capacity.

The AWL of Kosciusko County will offer $50 adoptions starting Tuesday, July 9. The cost includes vet, rabies, spaying/neutering services and microchipping for the pets. This does not include puppies and kittens, which require higher vaccine costs.

The AWL currently has 412 animals in its care. Recently, the AWL had to set up wired crates in the hallway because they ran out of dog kennels.

The AWL recently had to set up wire cages because all dog kennels were full.

According to AWL of Kosciusko County Executive Director Tonya Blanchard, the AWL has regular adoptions but receives new animals faster than they can adopt them out. They already have 150 more pets on a waitlist.

Brooke Lyon of the AWL said that one of the most prominent issues contributing to the overflow is that pets are being surrendered by owners moving to housing that does not permit pets. She said that with the rising cost of living and landlords not allowing animals, a lot of owners aren’t able to continue to care for their pets.

To ensure the animals find their forever home, potential adoptive pet parents will have to fill out an application and speak with AWL representatives to ensure the animals are a good fit, regardless of the low adoption costs.

Volunteers are also needed to walk dogs, foster kittens and help socialize animals. Families are welcome to play with the animals in the “cuddle rooms.”

Prospective volunteers can walk in and fill out a waiver.

Donations of wet food, treats and toys are appreciated.

The Fulton County Animal Center is also at capacity. Two weeks ago, the maximum dog limit of 20 was surpassed, and they housed 25 dogs, eliminating the possibility of overflow acceptance during the 4th of July week.

“July 8-31, we’re partnering with Bissell Pet Foundation to sponsor adoption fees, so they’ll all be $25 and already spayed, vaxed and dewormed,” stated Executive Director Janet Showley.

Opportunities to volunteer include dog walking and kitten fostering. Showley explained that fostering is a way to let a mother cat raise her kittens in a family’s home until the kittens are large enough to get vaccinated and adopted, which has a two-pound minimum weight requirement. Fostering can be a rewarding way to volunteer and have kittens in the home without keeping them.

FCAC donation wish lists are available on Chewy, Amazon and the FCAC website.

Both animal centers urge the community to get pets spayed and neutered. The FCAC offers a low-cost program for cat vaccines and spay/neuter. They also have a pet food pantry for those who need help feeding their pets.

“If you are considering surrendering an animal, reach out to us first about how we can help,” says Showley. “I also want to say I’m so appreciative of the community support. Whenever I post that we need help, they’re very receptive … I always say we are small but mighty.”