HATS temporarily lowers prices of animals to encourage adoptions

Isabella County residents looking for a new cat or dog will find lower prices through the Humane Animal Treatment Society this week.

The annual event, Adopt-A-Palooza, will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. through Saturday. The Isabella County Animal Shelter, 1105 S. Isabella Road, where the event will be held, is hoping to adopt out many of the dogs and cats because of a steadily increasing population.

“We have reached maximum capacity and want these animals to find loving homes during Adopt-A-Palooza,” said Jill Irving, executive director of HATS, in a press release. “The temperament testing is what allows us to match the adopters with the animals in the best way possible.”

The temporary decrease in price is intended to encourage people to adopt the shelter animals, which would prevent several euthanizations.

“We are really slow on adoptions right now,” said Chelsea Tenwalde, kennel technician at HATS.

Tenwalde said HATS has been euthanizing weekly because of space constraints.

“We really don’t want to euthanize them,” she said.

The price for a cat has dropped from $80 to $35, and the price for dog has dropped from $175 to $80. These prices include spaying and neutering, vaccinations and other shots the animals need.

“In order for them to be adopted, they have to be spayed or neutered,” said Autumn Scott, feline technician at HATS.

Scott said the most common problem with animal control is wild cats. Most, if not all, are still fertile and have two to three litters per year. The kittens are then found and turned into the shelter, adding to the population increase.

Summer and winter are the busiest seasons for the shelter, because most wild animals mate in those seasons, Scott said.

Adopt-A-Palooza will hopefully diminish the number of animals the shelter acquired in the summer, Tenwalde said.

Another problem, however, is domestic cats that are not spayed or neutered, Scott said. This is why HATS requires all animals to be spayed or neutered before being considered for adoption.

Questions about the adoption process can be directed to the shelter at 989-775-0830.