HSOY No. 9 in U.S. for adoptions at PetSmart stores
The Humane Society of Yuma was No. 9 in the country during 2016 in terms of adopting animals out of centers provided in PetSmart stores, the agency announced this week.
HSOY spokeswoman Lana Shapiro said its relationship with PetSmart Charities, the nonprofit foundation which operates the adoption centers and events in all of the chain’s approximately 1,500 stores, said a majority of their adoptions are now happening at the Yuma Palms PetSmart, an average of about 20 a week.
“We know that the PetSmart partnership has been insanely beneficial for us, where we’ve been able to save many more lives because of that partnership,” she said.
She said the adoption center at the local store has been open for about four or five years, and since 2012, the HSOY has seen a 52.7 percent increase in adoptions, with a total of 2,799
adoptions in 2016 alone.
She said most of the “highly adoptable” animals are sent to the PetSmart at 1460 S. Yuma Palms Parkway, for a couple of reasons.
“We do try to categorize them so the more highly adoptable ones go over there much quicker. PetSmart themselves have standards that are a little bit higher in terms of behavior-wise, and everything needs to be up to date on their vaccines and spay and neuter for them to even be at PetSmart. So they have to be ready to go home that day,” she said.
HSOY has also been coordinating its store space with its foster programs. “Our foster parents typically hold onto their foster animals until a space opens up at PetSmart, not necessarily at the shelter. Most of what goes into foster care are kittens and puppies, and so that’s also why we’re getting a higher adoption rate out of PetSmart.”
The society also participates in all the nationally promoted adoption events the stores hold, getting as many animals as possible ready to show off during those higher-profile weekends.
Shapiro said PetSmart Charities donates a portion of the money from each adoption back to the Humane Society, and it’s also won other grants from the foundation to fund spay/ neuter surgeries and other expenses.
PetSmart Charities is a separate entity from the retail corporation, funded mostly by donations customers choose to make when they check out at one of the stores. According to its website it adopts about 1,300 animals out nationwide every day.
“At PetSmart Charities, our mission is to find lifelong, loving homes for pets in need and we could not do this without the hard work and dedication of animal welfare organizations like the Humane Society of Yuma,” said Steve Kaufman, center of excellence manager, adoptions at PetSmart Charities. “Their success with pet adoptions is a true testament to their commitment to helping pets in need in their community.”
Shapiro said HSOY still struggles at times with the volume of animals coming in and its staff knows the shelter is getting more crowded, as the local human population of potential adopters begins to decrease for the summer.
“We’re lucky to have that extra space at PetSmart and in the mall, but every now and then, we’ll get a wave of animals like we just did, regardless of what we do to help prevent animals from coming in, for whatever reason, and we’re just getting into ‘kitten season,’” she said.
Euthanasia is still a reality of life at the shelter, she said, but of the animals put down last year, most were tied to medical or behavioral issues, with only 52 done because of a lack of space or resources for animals con- sidered adoptable.
“That’s a huge, huge deal to us,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro said the PetSmart adoption centers are open daily, and close about 30 minutes before the store does at night for cleaning.
For more information about the humane society, visit www.hsoy.org or call (928) 782-1621.