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Dog Days of Summer!
Jul 14, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Ria Brown, Public Information Specialist, Lee County Animal Services Dog Days of Summer! Lee County Animal Services Offers August Dog Adoption Deal Fort Myers, Florida, 7/14/06–Lee County Animal Services is celebrating the Dog Days of Summer by rolling back the price of dog adoptions for the month of August. Pet owners can take home a new canine friend for only $40 (regularly $65). The adoption fee includes spay or neuter surgery; vaccinations appropriate for the dog's age; rabies vaccination and Lee County license (for dogs 3 months or older); heartworm test (for dogs 6 months or older); flea treatment and worming; a nationally registered Microchip ID; and a dog training DVD. The adoption package is valued at over $400! 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 1,400 animals are entering the facility each month. 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 2005, 35% of the pets entering Lee County Animal Services' shelter were relinquished by their owners. This is an increase of 16% 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' encourages all potential pet owners to learn more about the pet they are considering for adoption. A wide range of educational materials are available at the shelter to help adopters select the pet best suited to their lifestyle. To view all pets available for adoption visit Animal Services' web site at www.LeeLostPets.com or call 432-2083 for more information. |