A new push is happening in our state to adopt our neediest pets in the simplest way.
Citizens Animal Welfare Society, along with Rescuing Animals in Need came up with 'Shelter in a Store.' The program takes five pets from the local shelters with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control and puts them in local PETCO and PetSmart stores.
"We've done three tests at PetSmart stores," CAWS Founder Sam Basso said. "All three of them were very successful."
The program has many different goals, according to Sam Basso with the Citizens Animal Welfare Society.
"Right now, there's adoptable dogs right now in the shelters, but nobody wants to go there. They find it 'aversive'," Basso explained.
He believes it's easier and more comfortable for Valley residents to go into a pet store nearby to find their first pet or find a friend for the pet they already have.
"We can now ask people to volunteer in their own neighborhoods in a store near them...we can get all those animals out on the weekends in front of the public - make it very easy to shop," Basso said.
"And at the same time, it allows the shelter to clean all that space while the animals aren't there and to focus on animals that might be sick or animals that need behavioral modification on those days. So, it makes a lot easier on the shelter while those animals are gone. So, we can improve adoption rates dramatically this way."
If you want to adopt, you can keep up with their Facebook page to learn more about the next weekend adoption event with CAWS at a local pet store near you.
CAWS also said they are in desperate need of volunteers.
"We need people that can help with transport, we need people that can be adoption counselors, we need people to help us just before the event to give the dog a bath before we transport them," Basso explained. "They [the events] don't run long... it's not a big commitment in terms of time."
If you are interested in volunteering, email CAWS Vice President Robert C. Kezer at robertkezer@yahoo.com.
