Pet adoption fair set for Sept. 13-14

The Humane Society of Yuma has been having trouble lately finding homes for the dogs and cats in its shelter, and the economy may have something to do with.

Some area residents have been turning in animals to the society's Yuma shelter as they down-size in times of a worsening economy, said Elkie Wills, the society's community relations manager.

Meanwhile, the number of animals adopted from the humane society had fallen off this year, a fact she also attributes to the economy.

The humane society will try to find homes for the dogs and cats it has accumulated when it holds a pet adoption fair Sept. 13-14 in Yuma.

The fair will take place at PetSmart in the Yuma Regional Palms Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 13th and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 14th.

Wills expects the humane society will make available no less than 60 dogs available for adoption over the course of the two days of the fair.

In the time she's been at the humane society, Wills said, the number of adoptions from the humane society have increased each year until 2008.

"We've seen our numbers drop in comparison to last year."

She knows from anecdotal evidence that the economy is prompting more people to turn in their animals and fewer to adopt from the shelter.

“The economy had really decreased our pet adoptions this summer,” she said. “We hope people look to the Humane Society of Yuma to save a life before buying a pet from a breeder or pet store."

At the fair, dogs over the age of 4 months will be available for adoption for $85, while puppies under 4 months will be available for adoption at $100. Cats over the age of 4 months will be $55 and under 4 months $65.

The fees cover the cost of spaying or neutering, microchips, and vaccinations for rabies, parvo, distemper, parafluenza and bordatella.

A smaller number of cats than dogs will be available at the fair, but Wills said people who want to adopt felines can also do so at the shelter, 285 N. Figueroa Ave.

Those who adopt animals will be entered in a drawing for a set of Bose Quiet Comfort 2 Acoustic Noise Canceling Headphones, valued at $250, the humane society said.

The Yuma Kennel Club, Planned Pethood and Desert Lily Quilters will assist the humane society in the adoption fair.