The shelter was down to one lone doggie in the window, and then its dream came true... a photo captured the excitement of shelter staff, volunteers and the new adopters with this last dog adopted on Clear the Shelters Day, August 15, 2015. At the end of the day, 66 dogs and 31 cats were adopted into new, fur-ever homes. Tears of joy, purrs, and wagging tails were abundant on this happy occasion. Lives were saved with dreams come true.
Over 700 people visited the Animal Services Center (ASC) on August 15, in anticipation of meeting a new furry best friend. About a week prior to the big event, volunteers began grooming the animals to prepare them for their surgeries. Dr. Nancy Carter's team performed over 112 surgeries just days prior to the event. Telephone calls almost doubled on Clear the Shelters day, with 160 calls answered. Shelter staff and 65 caring volunteers with special assignments worked diligently to achieve success on the special day.
Eight of the volunteers served as personal pet shoppers, focused on helping adopters find their purr-fect match. Behind the scenes, volunteers busily cleaned the dog and cat condos, and continuously did dishes and laundry to provide clean bedding and bowls for all of the pets during the day. Guests were received into the shelter's adoption mall eight groups at a time, and each adoptive family was provided a personal shopper. Four groups met inside the adoption mall, while the other four visited with pets in the outside kennels with the new agility course. The personal shoppers worked to match adopters with pets to complement their lifestyles. They introduced prospective family pets and responded to the needs of the adopters by answering questions and providing counseling. Lifestyle matching helps contribute to a positive outcome for the future of each pet and owner. In some cases, a more active pet may encourage its new owner to participate in more physical activity leading to a healthier lifestyle. The emotional benefits of adopting a pet and receiving ongoing doses of pet therapy are an added bonus.
As guests awaited entry into the adoption mall, they were invited into the shelter's community room 40 at a time, to relax and be entertained with animal-themed movies featuring canines starring in the leading roles.
Community partner Texas Coalition for Animal Protection (TCAP) provided 112 low-cost pet vaccinations during the event.
On the grounds of the shelter, a yard sale led by Mansfield Independent School District teachers raised over $1,300 to help support the ASC Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.
Shelter employee Bob Meister, and volunteer Ms. Tammy, performed final exit interviews for each adopted animal with their new pet parent/family, and double checked each pet's new microchip identification. NBC DFW Channel 5 spent the day at the exit door capturing the moment when each new family departed with their new furry companion.
Animal loving Council member Sheri Capehart joined in on the excitement of the day. She later posted to the ASC Facebook page her thoughts about the wonderful effort at getting all of the available shelter dogs and cats adopted, and her appreciation to the shelter staff and "incredible volunteers." Others posted comments about "tears of joy and thankfulness to all the folks that adopted the fur babies," and that "it was an awesome day to see all adoptable dogs and cats get adopted", and "I can't wait to help next year".
Enough cannot be said to adequately thank all of the dedicated volunteers and everyone that helped to make Clear the Shelters Day a success. Congratulations to all of the new pet owners and best wishes for many years of happiness. Special thanks also to the following food vendors that helped with the event:
- Raising Cane's provided a free kids meal coupon for every family that adopted a pet
- Pizza Hut on South Cooper and West Sublett Road for feeding the volunteers and staff with 11 deliciously donated pizzas
- Jo-Ed's Bomber who also helped feed the volunteers with a seven foot sensational sub
- VIP Pizza Food Truck who was onsite for guests to the shelter to experience their gourmet pizza.
Shelter Manager Chris Huff said, "This was the second annual event and the excitement was contagious from staff, to volunteers, to visitors and so many animals were provided what appears to be great homes. It was a lot of hard work, but like so many others, we are excited about July 16, 2016, and hoping for another successful event."
Animal Services, Highlights, News