Shelter's grand opening to be celebrated Saturday

To showcase its new shelter, the Humane Society of Yuma will hold a grand opening event open to the public on Saturday.

In addition to shelter tours and free hot dogs, pet adoptions at the event will be 10 percent off, microchipping offered for $20 and identification tags for $1.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the new shelter, 4050 S. Avenue 4-1/2E.

“It will be a great opportunity for people to come out and view and take a tour of the new facility. Especially if they have ever been to the old facility, they will be inspired by this healthy new shelter,” said HSOY development director Cookie Wagter.

She noted that it is important for animals to have microchips and ID tags and this will be a great opportunity for pet owners to get this done.

“When an animal is picked up by an animal control officer, they will first check to see if it has an ID tag and scan it for the presence of a microchip. If it does and they can reach the owner, the animal will be returned prior to entering the shelter ... By returning the animal to the owner before it is impounded, it will save the owner payment fees and the animal will be back in the home much sooner.”

Wagter said that since moving to the new shelter, operations have improved dramatically.

“In the old shelter, because of the inadequate health conditions, the chance of an animal entering the shelter and contracting kennel cough was very high. At the new facility, we have seen that drop dramatically where it is almost nonexistent. We have the ability with the new facility to isolate a sick animal so that it will not pass it on to the other healthy animals.

“Adoptions have increased because people love coming to the shelter. On any one day that the shelter is open, you will see volunteers all over the place walking dogs and cuddling cats. It is one of the reasons the residents of Yuma voted the Humane Society the ‘Best Place to Volunteer.'”

Wagter said, however, that the shelter wasn't built with the idea to house more animals but to provide a temporary, healthy environment for pets before they find a “forever home.”

“If we can continue to reach the public and let them experience the joy of a healthy sterilized pet, we will be able to stop the pet overpopulation problem and no longer euthanize an animal because of lack of space. Our vision is to have an empty shelter, and we can only reach that goal with the help of the public.”

For more information about the grand opening event, call Wagter at 782-1621.

Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.