The shelter was completely empty. It’s not a sight animal shelter workers are accustomed to, but it was a reason to celebrate and to get the word out.
Such was the case with KC Pet Project during a giant dog adoption event they held in Kansas City, Missouri last October. Staff and volunteers shared the happy photo below of them waving from the empty kennels after 166 animals were adopted!
Photo Credit: KC Pet Project
Ohio’s Summit County Animal Control also experienced the thrill of silent kennels during their special adoptathon to coincide with the “Clear the Shelter” event.
Why should animal shelters post pictures of empty cages? For one thing, animal lovers and supporters love it, says the ASPCA. In a recent blog post of tips for shelters, the ASPCA wrote, “You don’t have to hold an Empty the Shelter event to create an effective status, or even clear a bunch of kennels. Just posting the empty cage of one animal who has gone home on any given day will resonate with your audience.”
Sharing positive news is always appreciated by animal lovers, in part because it’s rare for any animal shelter to be empty these days. In fact, it’s often the opposite, with many shelters suffering from overcrowding. The Fayette County shelter is one such shelter, where they are desperately trying not to euthanize the incoming pets, but an overflow of strays has them boarding dogs in makeshift cages outdoors in the cold.
“They come in faster than we can get them out, says Beth Powers, a New River Humane Society board member. “We really try with rescues, fosters and adoptions to get as many out as possible, but sometimes that’s just not the case.”
That’s why it’s important to celebrate the small victories along the way. To remind everyone that it is possible, if only for a little while, to have an empty shelter if everyone comes together to help.
Share this tip with the animal rescuers you know and with your friends!
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