Not since 2017 has the Stafford County Animal Shelter seen so few dogs surrendered by their owners.
The shelter reports taking in 129 dogs during the first six months of 2021, a total of 33 fewer animals than the previous year at the height of the pandemic.
A total of 300 dogs were surrendered to the shelter during the first six months of 2017. during the first six months of 2018 and 2019, the numbers were 231 and 172, respectively.
“The decrease has been substantial,” said Stafford County Animal Control Capt. Mike Null.
He praised the public and his shelter staff for getting out the word on the importance of having pets spayed and neutered. Animals adopted from the facility must be spayed or neutered, and the county works with area veterinarians to provide the service at a discount, said Null.
So far this year, a total of 100 animals adopted from the shelter have been fixed. The shelter has partnered with area vets since the mid-1990s to offer discounts.
Stafford County opened its new animal shelter at 26 Frosty Lane, near the Rappahannock Regional Jail, three years ago. It has double the capacity of the old shelter at Eskimo Hill Road for cats and a total of 22 dog kennels that can be converted to 44 in the case of emergencies, as well as five isolation pens for sick animals.
The shelter is open for adoptions Monday through Friday from 11 a.m to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
There’s a $10 adoption fee for cats and a $20 fee for dogs. Those who adopt must sign a contract to have the animal spayed or neutered by the time the animal is six months old.
A photo ID is required to adopt an animal.
