Augusta pet shelter offers free adoptions due to high kill rate

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Euthanasia rates are still up in Augusta, which is why shelters are calling on you at home to adopt.

Augusta Animal Services has been offering free adoptions and will continue to do so for at least the next month to help every pet find a new home.

Euthanasia rates have been a problem for a while.

“The euthanasia rates are definitely higher in Augusta than we would like to see,” said Outreach Coordinator Becky Reese.

Augusta Animal Services says part of the reason is animals not being spayed or neutered, even if it is a personal preference.

“But the problem with that is that owning a dog that’s not spayed or neutered, you have to be pretty much constantly vigilant,” said Reese.

So, they’re doing everything they can to keep the euthanasia rates down.

“In the past couple weeks, and heading forward, we are offering all dogs in the building free adoptions, and we have seen an increase in adoptions as a result of that, sometimes as many as five or six a day, which is wonderful,” she said.

In the last two weeks, 16 cats and 26 dogs have been adopted.

“We definitely want to see that continue. We want more people coming in. Because the thing you have to realize about an animal shelter, especially an open-ission animal shelter, is that every adoption saves a life. Every time you bring a dog home, you’re creating an empty kennel, which helps us cut down on our euthanasia rate,” said Reese.

They’re working to clear the shelter and give every pet a new home.

Augusta Animal Services will be hosting numerous adoption events in the weeks.

Visit their Facebook page for more information.

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