The Bartholomew County Humane Society (BCHS) will be reducing adoption fees at the end of the month.
The shelter is participating in the BISSELL PET FOUNDATION summer event through July 31st. Adoption fees for cats and dogs are $50 this time, thanks to the foundation. According to the shelter’s website, the standard fee is $120 for dogs and $80 for cats.
Individuals interested in adopting an animal should fill out an application at bartholomewhumane.org and schedule an appointment via email [email protected] or by calling 812-372-6063, shelter staff said.
BSL announced that more than 335 shelters in 44 states are participating in the reduced fee arrangement in partnership with MetLife Pet Insurance. Foundation officials said the new partnership allowed BISSELL to expand its reach to include more shelters and also gave adopters the option to have medical expenses covered.
“Pet expenses can add up quickly, and often pet owners forgo care or surrender their beloved pets when they can’t afford medical care,” BSL Pet Foundation founder Kathy Bissell said in a statement. “This partnership will help to ’empty the shelters’ of many pets in many communities and facilitate adoptions for people seeking treatment to keep their pets healthy and in their new homes.”
The MetLife partnership offers 30 days of free pet insurance, and owners can continue or opt out of that coverage, BCHS shelter director Kirsten Vantwoad said. She added that adoptions at local shelters always offer pet insurance, which owners can choose to retain or decline as part of the adoption process.
“Insurance is very important for some people, especially as their animals age,” she said in an email. “Care is expensive for people and animals!”
The BISSELL Pet Foundation is a national animal welfare organization dedicated to “ending homelessness.” The organization said in a release that shelters around the country are “overburdened” by owner surrenders and overstaying pets.
BCHS shared in a recent social media post that the shelter is “bursting at the seams.”
“Please share, share, share so we can get these babies home!” Staff wrote. “Some of these people have been in the shelter for a long time and they deserve a home.”