Dane County Humane Society: Kia Pet Adoption Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

The Kia Pet Adoption Grant allowed Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) to waive adoption fees for 10 cats and six dogs in our Lonely Hearts Club.

DCHS has an adoption guarantee, so adoptable animals can stay with us for as long as it takes to find their new homes. For pets who take longer to be adopted, we have the Lonely Hearts Club. Pets in the Lonely Hearts Club receive a little extra support to get them adopted, which could include specialized social media campaigns and reduced or waived adoption fees.

Our adoption fees cover the cost of various services, such as spay/neuter surgery, essential vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, microchips, and additional veterinary care as needed. Because of the grant funds from the Petfinder Foundation and Kia, we were able to perform these essential services for these Lonely Hearts Club pets while also waiving adoption fees to make it easier for adopters to take them home.

How many pets did this grant help?

16

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Chassie arrived at Dane County Humane Society (DCHS) very underweight – her ribs, spine, and hip bones were painfully clear. She was brought in by an animal services officer after being found stray in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. After such big changes in her circumstances, she was understandably nervous in the shelter environment, but DCHS’s compassionate staff gave her space, patience, and plenty of treats, and it soon became clear she was a friendly and affectionate dog.

While Chassie was a sweet and wiggly girl who liked to demand pets from her human friends, her time at DCHS stretched on.

There are many reasons why animals like Chassie have longer stays than others: maybe it’s the time of year, the number of people coming into the shelter, the number of other animals in the shelter at the same time, or an animal’s special medical or behavioral needs. In Chassie’s case, it’s likely the time of year contributed to her length of stay, as well as her boisterous personality and her preference for being the only dog in her home, as many families in DCHS’s dog-friendly community already have dogs in their homes.

Thanks to the grant funding from Petfinder Foundation, DCHS could lower adoption fees for several animals, including Chassie, which in turn lowered financial barriers to their adoptions – while still enabling DCHS to provide those animals with essential services that are typically (at least partially) covered by adoption fees, such as spay/neuter surgeries, core vaccinations, flea and tick treatments, microchips, and additional veterinary care.

During her time at DCHS, Chassie went on a few outings with staff and volunteers so she could enjoy time outside of the shelter setting and DCHS could learn more about her personality. Each volunteer who took Chassie on an outing loved their time with her, and Chassie enjoyed meeting new people and making new friends.

Chassie was first adopted about a month after arriving at DCHS. Unfortunately, this first adoption did not work out, though it was through no fault of Chassie’s. The family who originally took her home worried their extended family would never accept her due to a pre-existing bias against pit bulls. Thankfully, Chassie’s second stay with DCHS was much shorter than her first. After just a week, a new family came to meet her, and she was a wonderful fit for them.