HSOY waives fees for Fourth of July holiday
Number of animals shelter takes in spikes 50% around this time of year
To help prepare for the expected influx of spooked animals around the Fourth of July holiday, the Humane Society of Yuma is offering some deals and waiving impound and boarding fees for the next couple of days.
According to a HSOY news release, the organization is “taking a proactive approach to this holiday” and “doing everything they can to make space at the shelter, prevent animals from getting lost, ensuring that pets and owners have the means and the highest probability to return back home.”
The HSOY release also states that more animals go missing on the 4th of July than other day of the year.
“Year after year, HSOY sees an increase in lost animals overnight on the evening of the 4th of July,” HSOY officials say. “In 2017, 108 animals came into the shelter between July 4th and 6th. These three days are historically the days when shelters across the country experience a huge influx of stray animals; to gain perspective on this situation, on average, the Humane Society of Yuma intakes 24 animals a day, during these three days the average spiked up to 36, a 50 percent increase.”
HSOY officials add that space at the shelter is sparse in the summer, though the organization notes that “accidents happen all too often this time of year.”
The organization is urging the public to keep pets safe this holiday. HSOY is waiving all impound and boarding fees that accrue from July 4 though July 8 for animals that have entered the shelter between July 4 and July 6.
Licensing fees still apply, the release states.
HSOY’s shelter location will be closed July 4 and will open for normal operating hours on July 5. The shelter is located at 4050 S. Avenue 4 1/2 E. and can be reached by calling (928) 782-1621.
Area animal control phone numbers are as follows:
• City of Yuma Animal Control: (928) 373-4795
• Yuma County Animal Control: (928) 341-8800
• Somerton Animal Control: (928) 722-7399
• San Luis Animal Control: Police Department: (928) 341-2420 • MCAS: (928) 269-6303 • Town of Wellton Animal Control: (Police Department — 928-785-4887)