Economic times are tough for many Iowans, but some families are seeing such hardship, they’re being forced to take their dogs, cats or other pets to a shelter as they can no longer afford to feed them. Lori Hagey, with the Humane Society of North Central Iowa, says their shelter is seeing only a modest impact from the recession.
"It’s a really amazing thing — the last thing people want to give up are their pets," Hagey says. "We’ve seen some of that, people who are moving and can’t keep their animals." She says the shelter in Fort Dodge serves communities in a 60-mile radius and is able to place dozens of pets per month in new, loving homes.
February was a record month for adoptions at the shelter, with 69 animals finding new homes during the month. Hagey says, "Maybe people are thinking about being closer to home and having entertainment from their new dog or cat." The agency is a non-profit that gets no city or state funding — only donations.
She says the shelter is sometimes the last stop and the only stop for people who have to surrender their pets so they can find new homes instead of risking being put to sleep. The Fort Dodge facility does no euthanization, she says, "We find new homes for everybody." The Humane Society of North Central Iowa is hosting a fundraiser in Fort Dodge tonight (Saturday) called, The Fur Ball — Bets For Pets. It features a host of casino-type games, food, a D-J, and silent and live auctions. For information, visit the website: www.fdhumane.com .