Site Logo

Animal shelters limit adoptions, intake of stray animals

Published 1:30 am Friday, April 10, 2020

By Josh Horton Herald Writer

Animal shelters limit adoptions, intake of stray animals
1/7
Animal shelters limit adoptions, intake of stray animals
Everett Animal Shelter volunteer Sheridan Hedman works with Leah, a german shepherd, on the “sit” command during walk time on Saturday in Everett. Leah is one of the adoptable dogs at the shelter but they are hoping to get her into a program to work for the Washington State Patrol. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett Animal Shelter volunteer Sheridan Hedman works with Leah, a german shepherd, on the “sit” command during walk time on Saturday in Everett. Leah is one of the adoptable dogs at the shelter but they are hoping to get her into a program to work for the Washington State Patrol. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Naomi, a domestic shorthair tabby, lounges in her bed at Purrfect Pals on Saturday in Arlington. Namoi is one of the cats currently available for adoption at the Purrfect Pals Sanctuary. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tequila takes a break during walk time at the Everett Animal Shelter on Saturday in Everett. Tequila is new to the shelter and is currently available for adoption. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Squeakers, a 13-year-old tortie, is set up to be adopted from the Purrfect Pals Sanctuary. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Legolas Chester, a three-legged domestic shorthair buff tabby, sits in the sun out on one of the “catios” at the Purrfect Pals Sanctuary on Saturday in Arlington. Legolas Chester is one of the cats currently available for adoption. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

EVERETT — Like many local businesses, pet shelters around Snohomish County are feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Several animal shelters, including the Everett Animal Shelter and PAWS in Lynnwood, are restricting visitors to ensure social distancing. The Everett Animal Shelter is limiting adoptions to a “case-by-case” basis and PAWS adoptions are by appointment only.

The Everett Animal Shelter also is limiting its intake of stray animals because of the pandemic and is not accepting owner-surrendered pets. All pet licensing can be done online.

The Everett Animal Shelter had six dogs and nine cats listed for adoption as of Monday afternoon. PAWS had five dogs and three cats listed at its Lynnwood facility.

The pandemic also is having an economic impact on pet shelters.

In addition to adoptions being slowed to ensure social distancing, donations are down significantly, said Kathleen Olson, executive director of Purrfect Pals, a non-profit, non-kill cat sanctuary in Arlington.

“It’s impacting our revenue big time, and yet we still have the same fixed expenses just like any other business — the mortgage, the utilities, the payroll,” Olson said.

She said in order to pay the bills, two workers are being furloughed and several others are having their hours cut.

Purrfect Pals has a lower number of cats on-site than usual — about 80, Olson said — to ensure the trim-downed staff can care for the animals properly.

Purrfect Pals’ four off-site adoption locations, run by volunteers in Kirkland, Issaquah, Renton and Everett, have closed. All the cats at those locations were either adopted or fostered out, Olson said.

Olson said April usually sees a significant influx of animals coming into the shelter because cats tend to breed in the warmer weather. The ultimate worry is that the numbers of cats without homes will grow exponentially because spaying and neutering have been deemed non-essential procedures, Olson said.

“On a national level, we’re worried this would set us back 20 years because we’ve been doing aggressive spay and neuter (procedures) for so long,” Olson said. “We’re worried it will get back to the point where there were too many animals and not enough people to adopt them.”

Josh Horton: 425-339-3470; jhorton@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JoshHortonEDH.

You Might Like