By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Cats and dogs are always adorable. Maybe a little more so when they are free and need a home. This Saturday, Golden Belt Humane Society will be one of many shelters around the nation hosting "Clear the Shelter" events. Adoption fees for animals will be waived at the event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Golden Belt Humane Society Director Heather Acheson explains how.
"Clear the Shelter is a nationwide event that helps promote pet adoptions from shelters that may be overcrowded and overflowing," she said. "We have sponsors that send us donations to cover those adoption fees. We also do some fundraising to help cover some of those adoption fees. For us at the Golden Belt Humane Society, we require you to have an approved application on the big day."
As of Thursday afternoon, the shelter had 28 cats, 17 dogs, three rabbits, and two hamsters up for adoption. Acheson reminds the public they can keep numbers down by spaying and neutering pets and by being responsible pet owners.
"It's cheaper to fix your fence than it is to receive citations or impound fees here at the shelter," she said. "Spay and neuter is our biggest thing. Currently, we have four litters of puppies. One is going to be part of our Clear the Shelter, but three are not ready - they're too young. Anyone is invited to come out during the week when it's not an event, maybe to volunteer and walk a day in our shoes to see what we go through and what we work with as far as numbers go."
Golden Belt Humane Society staff will be joined by KSN and the Kansas Humane Society for Saturday's Clear the Shelter.