MEDIA CONTACT: Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist, Lee County Animal Services
(239) 432-2090 Ext. 241
Dog Days of Summer! Lee County Animal Services Offers July Dog Adoption Deal
and Extends Cat Adoption Special
Fort Myers, Florida, 6/30/03– Lee County Animal Services is celebrating the Dog Days of Summer by rolling back the price of dog adoptions for the month of July. Pet owners can take home a new canine friend for only $50 (regularly $65) including neutering, vaccinations, and a Microchip ID. Feline companions are just $40 (regularly $50). Animal Services’ June cat adoption special was so successful the shelter is extending it through July.
Shelters typically take in more pets during the summer months. For Lee County Animal Services, the county’s only open admission shelter, this means more than 1,000 animals each month enter the facility. Recently the number of lost pets taken in by Animal Services has been compounded by a steadily climbing increase in the number of pets relinquished by owners. The Dog Days of Summer adoption promotion is being offered to bring awareness to the problem and bring adopters to the shelter.
In 2002, 25% of the pets entering Lee County Animal Services’ shelter were relinquished by their owners. This is an increase of 6% since 2000. A recent survey by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy found the most common reasons for surrendering pets to shelters are: moving, behavior, landlord issues, cost, and too many pets in the home. Their study concluded that people have poor general knowledge about the animals they own and suggest that education could lessen the possibility of relinquishment.
Lee County Animal Services’ Education Resource Library is open to the public for onsite use with a wide range of books, videos and other educational materials. Potential adopters are encouraged to visit the library while at the shelter for information in selecting the pet best suited to their lifestyle and for information on training and animal behavior.
To view pets for adoption online visit Animal Services web site
at
www.LeeLostPets.com or call
432-2083 for more information.