Coming to the rescue
Katrina Hardeman hugs her newly adopted 4-year-old cat, Noonie, at the Harris County Animal Shelter, where hundreds of people lined up for hours to adopt or foster animals on Wednesday. Adoption fees were reduced to $10 for all animals in an effort to ease overcrowding at the packed facility, which has already taken in more than 200 animals.
“We are out of space. Many of our kennels already have up to six dogs in them.” Michael White, shelter director
Hundreds of people packed the Harris County Animal Shelter on Wednesday to adopt an influx of surrendered pets.
From Monday through Wednesday, more than 200 animals — dogs and cats among them — were surrendered to the “already crowded” north Houston facility, officials said.
Some kennels were filled with as many as four to six dogs to make room.
Michael White, director of the Harris County Animal Shelter, attributed the lowered adoption fee to their capacity crisis.
“We are out of space,” White said. “Many of our kennels already have up to six dogs in them, and we have several nursing
cats with kittens and dogs with puppies that are in urgent need of a temporary foster home.”
Katrina Hardeman visited the shelter on Wednesday and adopted a 4-yearold cat named Noomie.
The overcrowding had the county hoping a reduced adoption fee of $10 through Friday would help some animals find their forever homes. The cost includes spay or neuter procedures, vaccines, a microchip and a one-year pet license.
The shelter at 612 Canino Road was also looking for foster parents to care for some animals for at least two to three weeks.
The Fort Bend County Animal Services facility in Rosenberg also reported having 33 dogs too many on Wednesday. The adoption fees for those nearly three dozen canines were waived through June 2, according to a news release.
The cost also includes spay or neuter procedures, microchips and vaccinations.