Looking for a furry friend? Cincinnati Animal CARE waives adoption fees amid intake surge

If you’ve been contemplating getting a pet, now's the time to do it.

Cincinnati Animal CARE is waiving adoption fees for all animals who are six months or older every day 1 to 6 p.m. until Sunday, the shelter announced on Facebook .

The offer is available at both Cincinnati Animal CARE locations: 3949 Colerain Ave. and 4210 Dane Ave.

Cincinnati Animal CARE, which has committed to a "humane no-kill philosophy ," is wrestling with an animal population that well exceeds their capacity, said Abby Moore, community engagement coordinator at the shelter. The waived fees are intended to encourage adoption and relieve the strain on their resources, she said.

As of Wednesday morning, the shelter had 504 dogs and 231 cats under their care, which includes animals in foster care, Moore said. Still, the number of animals lodged in Animal CARE facilities is causing crowding issues and forcing shelter staff to adapt with temporary solutions, like tub cages and pop-up cages, Moore added.

The Colerain Avenue shelter has 100 dog kennels available but has been consistently housing nearly 200 dogs as of late, according to Moore.

July is on track to be the shelter's busiest month since taking over as Hamilton County's token animal shelter in August 2020, Moore said. The shelter is on pace to intake 465 dogs and 279 cats this month based on the daily average.

Following the social media announcement, some people took to the comment section to advocate for responsible pet ownership. One user warned prospective pet owners to think twice about hastily adopting a pet without the financial means or time to take care of one.

"Free is not free if you are a responsible pet owner. Don't get a cat or dog, free ... spur of the moment," the user wrote in part.

The shelter's main priority is getting animals into safe and loving homes, and waiving adoption fees doesn't clash with the mission, Moore said.

Moore cited research that found the majority of pets adopted without a fee remained in the same home six to 12 months after the initial adoption.

"We believe in low barriers to adoption," she said.

People adopting a dog are still required to purchase a Hamilton County dog license and any other items they may need that are available at the shelter − like leashes and collars − while the fees are paused, Moore said. Adopters will be vetted using the same process, as well.

Prospective adopters can still adopt an animal at a discounted price after the adoption fee pause ends. Adoption fees will be $15 for both cats and dogs July 22 to 31, according to Moore. That's down from the standard $75 fee for dogs and $40 for cats.

The initiative to waive and lower adoption fees is a partnership with BISSELL Pet Foundation , a national organization aimed at reducing the number of animals in shelters.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Looking for a furry friend? Cincinnati Animal CARE waives adoption fees amid intake surge