Weekend event pairs pets and owners
Angela Brown of Aiken holds Tiny, a 15-year-old Chihuahua that she adopted last weekend at an event sponsored by Columbia County Animal Care and Control.
Photo by Valerie RowellTiny's family moved to Columbia County from out of state and had no room for her. So her owners turned Tiny in to Columbia County Animal Care and Control in hopes of finding her a new home.
Tiny, a 15-year-old Chihuahua, was adopted during the facility's special pet adoption Friday, the same day she was turned over by her owners.
Tiny was adopted by Angela Brown and Barbara Olsen, who drove all the way from Aiken for the adoption. Olsen's 20-month-old daughter, Katie, was excited about the little dog as she petted Tiny with a big grin all the way to the car.
Eight other dogs and three kittens went home with new owners Friday.
This type of event, where pets can be adopted for a discounted $10, has been held only once before - at a grand opening after the facility was remodeled, said Linda Fulmer, facility director.
"We just wanted to try to start doing something like this several times a year to make the public aware that we are here and we have animals for adoption all the time," Fulmer said.
The adoption was in conjunction with the Columbia County Humane Society and the Columbia County Animal Control Advisory Board.
Because of Friday's success, the adoption was extended through Saturday. Another dog went home with new owners the second day of the adoption.
"(We consider the adoption a success), we think so with that many (adopted)," Fulmer said. "That was really good.
Fulmer hopes another special adoption can be scheduled before Christmas.
Animals must be held for five days before being put up for adoption to give the owner time to claim them. Then, based on each animal's temperament, they are put up for adoption.
Pets that are turned in by their owners can be adopted immediately, as Tiny was. For animals turned over by owners, Animal Care and Control employees can find out specific information like age and temperament, which makes the animal more adoptable, Fulmer said.
The normal adoption fees cost $15 for cats, kittens and puppies and $25 for dogs. When adopting from the facility, new owners must sign an agreement to take the animal to a veterinarian within three days of adoption and another agreement to have the animal spayed or neutered according to state law.
Animal Care and Control hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon Friday and Saturday. The facility is at 6337 Columbia Road, Appling, next to the Columbia County Detention Center.
For more information, call 541-4077.