SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Animal shelters all across the country are in a crisis with too many pets coming in and not enough adoptions to keep up.
That includes here in Sioux Falls. For the next two weeks, the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society will be participating in a nationwide event sponsored by the Bissell Pet Foundation to empty shelters all across the country.
Meet Bubba, an eight-month old lab-retriever mix. He would love for you to take him home.
He’s one of dozens of dogs that are available for adoption at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.
“Our shelter can hold about 500 animals, right now we have about 400 animals, so we are on the fuller side and we definitely want to get these guys out of here,” Dana Konzem said.
The shelter takes in new pets almost daily.
“Our facility is on a constant rotation if we have 30 animals go out, we have another 30 animals come in,” Konzem said.
Right now they have an abundance of cats and kittens like Chai. You can adopt most of them for $50 or less from now until October 15th.
Thanks to the Bissell Pet Foundation new pet owners will save more than $25.
“So they provide a grant for us, so they are a part of our lower adoption fees to reimburse us to help cover some of our costs,” Ryan Kruse said.
They say adopting a new pet is pretty simple and rewarding.
“All you have to do is come fill out a form, you get to take your picture with your animal afterwards and it’ll help you save a bit of an adoption fee,” Kruse said.
These types of events have been very successful in the past and they are hoping this one is too.
“Our goal is to empty the shelter, it would be awesome if we didn’t have any cats to adopt or any dogs in our hallways to be able to say that everybody is gone and maybe come back next week and we may have somebody, that would be huge that’s what we’d like to see,” Konzem said.
Sioux Falls is one of 390 shelters in 44 states participating in the event.
