Pets at closing Monroe shelter will be adopted out

MONROE — After an outpouring of support, a local animal shelter that’s closing says it plans to adopt out most of the dogs and cats in its care, with the remainder going to animal sanctuaries or other shelters, a volunteer said.

Kate Compton, a volunteer at the SPCA of Connecticut animal shelter in Monroe, said the shelter has received “hundreds” of adoption applications, phone calls and emails since the news broke of the shelter’s closing. The closure meant that the shelter needed to find homes for 33 animals by May 6.

On Saturday, Compton said the shelter is now “meet and greets” to try and match the remaining animals with their new families. A total of 17 dogs remain that the shelter wants to adopt out, along with nine cats.

It’s unclear exactly how many of the dogs will end up living out their days living at animal sanctuaries. Some can’t be adopted out due to factors like their bite history, according to Compton.

“The majority we hope will be able to go with families,” she said, noting that the shelter is still taking applications for people looking to adopt.

On Saturday, the shelter held a event for would-be owners to meet the animals the shelter is hoping to adopt out.

“The dog has to pick them and they have to pick the dog,” Compton said. “So far we’ve had some really great connections.”

Compton said the “overwhelming response” from people who heard about the shelter closing led the shelter to hold Saturday’s “meet and greet,” which she stressed wasn’t an adoption event. Instead, potential owners fill out applications and then meet their potential new pet in person.

“We certainly had people who if we let them take the dog home” on Saturday, they would, Compton said. But the shelter still has to vet applicants, including checking if renters actually have permission to have a dog from their landlord.

On Saturday, one dog went home with its new family, who had applied a month ago. Five cats were also adopted out.

Compton said she’s heard concerns from people worried the remaining animals would be put down if the shelter can’t find homes for them in time. But she said the shelter is continuing to raise money through GoFundMe to send the animals who can’t be adopted to animal sanctuaries or other shelters.

“We’re very appreciative of the outpouring of support from the community,” she added.

Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media Volunteer Nancy Swanson, of Monroe, has taken care of the cats for over 20 years at the SPCA of CT, at 359 Spring Hill Road in Monroe. The nonprofit is closing due to financial issues.

Siblings Adam and Samantha Reichardt, of Seymour, look to adopt 3-year-old pit bull Miss Basil

A cat awaits adoption at the shelter in Monroe on Saturday.