Like many other shelters, the Guernsey County Dog Shelter is experiencing an increase in post-pandemic pet surrenders.
The shelter which can adequately house 25 to 30 dogs, but currently it has a population of 45.
According to Corporal Karla Kerns, Guernsey County dog warden, the shelter was taking in an average of 10 dogs a week. That amount is starting to taper off slightly.
In an urgent effort to reduce the population and find good homes for the dogs, the dog shelter is offering to reduce the adoption fees by 50% through Aug. 1.
The reduced rates are $63 for Guernsey County residents and $80 for those outside the county. Dogs over the age of 5 are $38.
The adoption fees includes spay/neuter, Dhlpp, rabies and bordetella vaccines, micro-chip, and heartworm and Lyme testing.
The dog license is a separate charge of $16.
The process to adopt a dog begins with completing an adoption application found on the Guernsey County Sheriff’s website.
Information on adoptable dogs can be found at www.guernseycountydogshelter.com.
For more information call the dog shelter at 740-432-2219 or email tyakubik@guernseycounty.org or k.kerns@guernseysheriff.com.
Public hours for the shelter are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Additional times may be available by appointment.
In addition to the need to adopt out the dogs, the shelter is also in need of aluminum cans which they collect to raise money for the care of stray dogs. Currently due to the high increase in Lyme disease in the area, the shelter is testing the dogs for heartworm/Lyme disease.
There is an area at the shelter located at 62824 Bennett Ave., in Cambridge for cans to be dropped off.