Warden said summer is good time to adopt a dog
Homer is an 8-year-old Walker Coonhound available for adoption at the shelter. Homer enjoys long walks and being outdoors. His adoption fee is sponsored.
Holmes County Dog Warden Jonathan Beam has a large number of dogs ready to find a loving forever home, and summer is the perfect time to adopt a new four-legged family member.
“In later spring and early summer, we see quite a few dogs come into the shelter. It also happens to be the perfect time to choose a dog for your family,” Beam said.
Holmes County Dog Warden and Adoption Center has a variety of breeds and mixes in the kennels to see, waiting for new owners.
The adoption process is flexible. Beam said families can come to the shelter and describe the kind of animal they’re looking for.
“If they have no specific breed in mind,” Beam said, "we ask questions about family members, lifestyle, level of activity, home environment and other things to kind of get a feel for what they may be looking for. We can then go back and bring out a good match.”
Conversely Beam said visitors also can go into the kennels and meet adoptable dogs.
“I think it’s important to come with an open mind,” Beam said. “If you have a very specific list of wants and are hard bound to that list, it will be harder to find a good match. But if you come into it with some flexibility, that’s a better situation. We find that people often leave with a dog that is different than they expected. I’ve seen people come in saying ‘no pit bulls’ and leave after falling in love with a pit bull.”
The adoption fee is $50, which includes license, collar and leash. Neutering of animals before adoption is not required.
The shelter has a high rate of success in placing dogs. “We are very successful,” Beam said, "with a 97 percent placement rate. Those are dogs that are either returned to their owner, rescued or placed in new homes. We want that kind of success to continue.”
Beam said there are a lot of different types of dogs at the shelter. “The coolest thing about that is the sheer variety. We have a few pit bulls, yes, but not as many as other shelters often do," he said. "We see a lot of hounds and lab mixes primarily, but we also have this amazing variety of dogs at any given time.”
Beam said the shelter’s primary responsibility is to pick up strays. “We hold them for 72 hours, as required by law, while we search for their owner. After that period they’re available for adoption.”
Dog owners can keep their dog out of the warden’s shelter by means of a couple easy steps. Beam said, “Get a license and keep the tag on their collar. When there’s a license present, we can return the dog straight to their owner without even needing to bring it to the shelter first. If your dog goes missing, call us right away, even if they’ve only been gone a few minutes. We can keep an eye out for the dog right away.”
Beam said he thinks of the shelter as the central location for both resolving missing dog situations and placing animals in loving homes.
A new program, the Pawsitive Business Adoption Campaign partners with local businesses to help cover adoption costs.
“The business gets a designated week, and one of the dogs’ kennels is marked with that business’ name and sponsorship," Beam said. "If that dog is chosen, the $50 adoption fee is covered."
The dog then makes a trip to the business for a photo op. “It’s a great scenario all the way around,” Beam said.
The advantages of adopting a shelter dog are many, for both dog and new owner. “You're making a difference, first of all,” Beam said. "If we didn’t have people who are able to adopt a dog into their home, we’d have a problem. Adopted dogs, happy in their forever home, make a difference in the lives of families. And being in a safe and loving new home makes a huge difference in the life of the dog. Having a dog in the family is also a great way to teach children responsibility."
Beam said summer is the perfect time to adopt. "There are a lot of dogs to choose from, and you can get outside and be active with your new pet.”
The shelter introduced a volunteer dog-walking program last year, which has been a great success. “Volunteers come and get the dogs out for some exercise and let them burn off a little energy," Beam said. "It helps to reduce their anxiety.”
More information about adoptions and volunteer opportunities is at www.holmescountydogwarden.com or call the dog warden’s office at 330-674-6301.