SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Back in early July, KELOLAND News took you inside the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society where the shelter was well over its animal capacity.
The non-profit put out a call for adopters. Fortunately, people like Lindsey Greeen showed up.
Green wanted to add a second dog to her home.
“I think she wants a friend, and I’ve always wanted multiple dogs. Keep me active, keep her active,” Greene told KELOLAND News in July 2024.
Fast forward to now, and all those adopters have given the humane society a reason to celebrate.
In July, the animal shelter set a monthly adoption record of 486 animals.
“It’s incredibly satisfying. It’s a real morale boost for our staff, volunteers,” Executive Director James Oppenheimer said.
Oppenheimer says reduced adoption fees for the month, a plea for adopters, and increased awareness of the shelter all played a role in the milestone.
The previous monthly record of 439 adoptions was set just this past December.
And 2023 was a record setting year for adoptions with 3,807 animals going to new homes.
“It’s fun to know they’re going home, and it’s good to see the larger increase in numbers because you’re seeing them leave here and go somewhere that isn’t stressful for them or that is a long-term solution for them,” Humane Welfare Director Caley Harr said.
It may not be long before the shelter hits another record.
Adoptions are pacing ahead of last year, and Oppenheimer is projecting another record-setting year.
“We will break that record. The question is going to be by how much,” Oppenheimer said.
“We will break the record,” Harr said.
As the shelter staff works on getting these animals out of the building, higher volumes of animals are coming into the shelter.
Oppenheimer says intakes are up about 13 percent compared to last year at this time.
“It’s only a slight increase in the number of strays. We have seen an enormous increase in the number of surrenders,” Oppenheimer said.
Harr says that can get overwhelming for staff.
“Initial reactions are always, ‘Oh, no,’ but you kind of get over that pretty quickly. We realize we have to give them care and we have to treat everyone individually,” Harr said.
Oppenheimer isn’t exactly sure what’s behind the influx, but causes could include the growing Sioux Falls population and economic challenges.
“We hear consistently, the cost of vet care, the cost of feeding animals, the cost of looking after an animal has gone up, and so less people can afford it, and we have made ourselves a good option where if you can’t keep your animals we want people to be comfortable bringing their animal to us,” Oppenheimer said.
Fortunately, the Sioux Falls area is answering the call for adoptions.
“The community has really stepped up. Sioux Falls has really grown so much, and you can very visibly see that every single time we break a record, just how much the community comes through,” Harr said.
“People open their hearts to rescue animals. It’s animals that are in need, and the Sioux Falls public clearly cares about that,” Oppenheimer said.
For ways to help the humane society, click here.
