“Richmond Animal Care and Control (RACC) is reporting a staggering decrease in the amount of animals they’ve taken in and high adoption rates at the same time. In turn, cages that normally would be full are empty.
The city-run organization will use the extra space to save animals from around the country.
Normally, the shelter’s Ward B would be filled with dogs. However, 2020 is giving us some things to smile about. More dogs and cats are finding forever homes. ‘This ward has been empty since April,’ RACC’s Christie Peters said.
Peters said the shelter took in 1,200 fewer animals in 2020 compared to 2019. Roughly 2,200 animals entered the shelter in 2020. “I think it is because of the virus. I really do. I think that animals provide such a comfort and solace…the people who’ve had animals maybe that were a little tricky, when they’re home, they can work on behavior issues. Maybe they would have given up that pet and they’re not,” she said.
Peters said the cages aren’t empty solely because less animals are being sheltered, but also because dogs and cats are being adopted much quicker and more often. ‘We used to have dogs that would sit for a year. Now it’s like two weeks max. They’re in, they’re out, they’re adopted,’ Peters said. ‘We’re hopeful that trend will continue.’
So with the open space and funding exclusively from the Tommie foundation, RACC is planning a new way to save more paws in other parts of the U.S. ‘Your donations are already at work saving other animals around the country,’ Peters said.
They’re assembling teams of volunteers who will drive to collect animals from overcrowded or underfunded public shelters. The shelter calls it ‘RACC Gives Back.’”
View the whole story here: https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/racc-credits-pandemic-for-empty-cages-starts-new-project-to-save-animals-around-the-country/amp/