New roommates
Interest in pet adoption increases during stay home order
Local animal shelters and petwelfare organizations report that people are realizing there is something missing from their lives — a furry friend.
More people are looking into adopting pets because they are spending more time at home, according to Sarah Lutz, president of Mason County Mutts.
But she is concerned that people will later change their minds.
Mason County Mutts is a nonprofit that promotes animal welfare and works to make the community animal-friendly. It has a Facebook group by the same name where people in the area can post photos of lost pets or those in need of homes.
“The number (of people) looking for pets has increased, but I’m not sure potential adopters are thinking the situation all the way through,” she said. “Yes, they may have extra time on their hands right now, but what happens when these families go back to their normal busy routines? That’s the part that worries us. How many of these animals will end up back in shelters? We just want people who are interested in adopting to put a lot of thought into it, to take into consideration their schedules after quarantine.”
Mason County Animal Control Officer Sarah Colbrook said there was a lot of interest in adoption at the start of the stayat-home order.
“In the beginning, people were staying at home more and wanted a companion,” she said.
Lutz is advising people to be thoughtful about adoption in private messages, on phone calls and through the Facebook page.
“Of course we want a home for every animal, but more importantly we want good, loving homes where the animals can thrive and be cared for properly,” she added.
Jody McCarthy, vice president of Lakeshore Animal Friends and adoption and foster coordinator, shared the same concern. Though she is receiving twice the amount of calls from people interested in adopting, she hopes after life returns to normal they will realize the pet is a “family member.”
“I’m afraid there will be an influx of (pets) coming when people realize they don’t have the time anymore,” she said.
Lakeshore Animal Friends is currently rescuing, adopting out and fostering cats.
“The majority of people wanting cats end up adopting. People want kittens. With the pandemic, it is harder to get them fixed,” she said.
Lakeshore Animal Friends does not adopt out any cats that are not spayed or neutered and had their first shots, according to McCarthy.
The number of cats Lakeshore Animal Friends has changes frequently. In the past week, she said seven were adopted and nine more were taken in. In two more weeks, she hopes 10 kittens that were recently rescued will be available.
People interested in adopting or fostering cats can call the Lakeshore Animal Friends phone number at (231) 843-1414.
Two cats are currently at Mason County Animal Control in need of adoption.
Animal control is currently closed to the public and adoptions are by appointment only. For more information about the cats, call (231) 843-8644 or send a message to its Facebook page.
The animal control Facebook and Petfinder pages are updated as soon as new pets come in, according Colbrook.
Adoption appointments are typically scheduled during normal office hours, unless there are several people in one day, then they are spread out to allow time for cleaning in between, she said.
Oceana County Animal Shelter had more people calling about fostering, according to the control officer, Mike Garcia.
“I don’t think there’s been an uptick in adoption, but a lot of people want to foster,” he said.
The Oceana shelter is only allowing people who have fostered pets in the past to do so again at this time, and they must be from the county.
The shelter is allowing out-of-county adoptions by appointment only.
“A lot of people who adopt our animals are from Up North — Ludington, Scottville and Irons,” he said.
Garcia said the shelter has a low-contact system that allows people to safely look at the animals.
“We have to move them if we can. We can’t sit here and not adopt,” he said.
The Oceana shelter currently has five cats and six dogs available. For more information about the pets, visit the Oceana County Animal Shelter Facebook page.
Mason County Mutts is accepting monetary donations to stock the emergency food pantry, Lutz said. The animal food pantry is available to Mason County residents.
“We have helped over 90 families so far,” she said.
Lakeshore Animal Friends is currently accepting donations and is in need of kitten food.
“Because of the pandemic, we are not able to have our usual fundraisers,” McCarthy said. “I think all of the (nonprofits) are hurting right now.”