NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Animal Shelter is holding an event at the Eagle Media studios this weekend.
"It's our annual kickoff of our Adopt A Pet here with Eagle, in this wonderful grass field out here beside you," said Michaela Schommer with the Hutchinson Animal Shelter. "With the shade and the trees, it's our favorite adoption spot. That will be this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We will be out here with a variety of dogs. This co-exists at the same time with the Empty the Shelters Bissell sponsorship event is going on until May 15. With that going on, that means all of our adoption prices are slashed dramatically. Our adult dog adoption fees will only be $50."
The need to adopt out dogs is especially acute this week at the shelter.
"If we are at full dog capacity, we can house about 40 to 45 dogs in a healthy environment setting, with our staffing levels and kennel space," Schommer said. "Currently, we have 72 dogs in our care. They are all fed and watered. They are all getting love and affection. They are all getting walked and exercised every day. But, when on average we are between 35 to 45 and then suddenly we're at this kind of capacity level...we're also partnering with rescue groups and other shelters, trying to spread out our means as much as possible, but, we need more adopters. We need families that are committed to keeping their pets and then caring for them."
If dogs are not adopted out, in some cases, euthanasia ends up being the most humane way to make sure they don't suffer any longer.
"Our shelter, just like all the other shelters across the U.S., currently are bursting at the seams. We are beyond full. We are working over capacity, trying to help and save as many of these animals as we can. The volume of dogs and cats, but specifically dogs right now, coming into our shelter are above what we have the means to care for, above the space limits we have and the budgeting that we have."
Event organizers are also accepting donations for the Animal Shelter, monetary, food and pet toys from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the south lawn at 8th and Main in Hutchinson.
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