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Nov 19, 2024, 7:47 AM CST
OSHKOSH, WI- (WISS &WGBW) – The Oshkosh Area Humane Society (OAHS), at last count, has over 280 animals in its care. Many are in the shelter. Many more are in foster homes. All are looking for their fur-ever home by the end of the holiday season.
Ieva Engel is the Executive Director of OAHS. She said she wants to encourage anyone who wants a pet to consider adopting from the shelter right now.
“Not only do we have a lot of animals here. There are a lot of animals on our waitlist as well that are waiting to be surrendered. Adoptions have been slow,” Engel said. “We have a lot of cats. We have a lot of dogs and small mammals, too! We have some rabbits and guinea pigs. We can use all kinds of adopters!”
OAHS especially wants people to adopt its long-time residents, the ones who have been in foster care the longest. Engel said that finding them homes frees up the foster families to help other animals that aren’t doing well in the shelter setting.
“Some animals do fine in a shelter setting. No animal wants to be in a shelter setting; don’t get me wrong. But some animals handle it a little bit better than others,” Engel said. “So it is extremely important from stress management and anxiety management standpoint, to find these foster homes who can help the dogs and cats to feel at home. It’s a calmer, typically. The noise levels and smells and so on.”
Engel added that the shelter also wants to relieve the current fosters. Some of them have been fostering animals for over a year.
“Fosters need some time off sometimes. Fosters also travel. So it becomes an issue when the animals have to come back for a little bit to the shelter when we are so full,” she said.
Engel rattled off the numbers when asked how many animals the OAHS was caring for. There are 56 cats in the shelter available for adoption; over 100 cats in foster care; 10 cats at Planet Perk; 59 on stray or medical holds; 34 dogs and 12 small mammals.
Those interested in adopting a cat can fill out the match-making questionnaire online or in-person to be matched with the perfect kitty for their lifestyle.
“We are a match-making shelter. We’re not first-come, first-serve. We look for the best fit to ensure that the animal is really exactly what the adopter is looking for and in turn, that the animal is a good fit for the adopter as well,” Engel said. “It’s easy to fall in love with a cute face. But if the personality is not a good fit with resident cats in the house or resident dogs. Or if it’s a kitty that will be around children who want to engage with the cat, but the cat is very shy. That might not be a good fit despite the cute appearance.”
Cats and kittens can be introduced and adopted any time the shelter is open.
Currently, the OAHS does not charge an adoption fee for cats and kittens. However, a licensing fee, microchip fee, and vaccination fee may apply at the time of adoption (City of Oshkosh license is $5, microchip is $25, and rabies vaccination is $25).
The process for adopting a dog from OAHS is similar to that for cats. However, the online application process must be completed before the meet-and-greet. Engel said that even if an adopter doesn’t know which dog they are interested in, they are still asked to fill out the application and make an appointment.
“When dogs are in their kennels, they are anxious. They are looking for attention. All it takes is for one dog to start barking and then all of them are barking. They appear really stressed and it’s difficult for adopters to assess ‘Is this a good dog for me?’” said Engel.
Adoption fees start at $50 for dogs with special needs. Senior dogs eight years old and older typically have an adoption fee of $50-$100. Young adult dogs typically have an adoption fee of $150-$250. Higher adoption fees for younger dogs help supplement the reduced adoption fees of dogs that adopters may overlook due to age, medical need, etc.
The OAHS also has numerous small animals available for adoption. From rabbits to guinea pigs to mice to birds, the OAHS has helped them all find homes.
The Oshkosh Area Humane Society does not euthanize animals for space or length of stay or if they are difficult to adopt. However, Engel said that if the animal is suffering, it will be euthanized. She called the OAHS a “life-saving shelter ” because it does that even for the harder cases.
