Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, May 18, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

The “Help the Animals Fund” was created in 1977 to pay for life-saving veterinary care for sick, injured and abused animals at the Shelter. As the Shelter’s veterinary needs grew, volunteers started the Furry 5K in 1999 to raise money for the Fund and to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership. Last year, the Fund covered nearly $150,000 in veterinary bills.

“The Furry 5K has been a wonderful event for the orphaned animals of the Seattle Animal Shelter. Because of the generous Furry 5K participants, we have been able to provide veterinary care to thousands of orphaned animals and have been able to guarantee that all adoptable animals will find loving new homes,” said Shelter Director Don Jordan.

Shelter staff anticipates that this year’s Furry 5K will draw more than 3,000 people and 1,500 furry canines. The race will begin at 10 a.m. and will be followed by Pet-a-Palooza, a partnership with CBS Radio to feature entertainment, festive music, awards and an interactive vendor area. The Furry 5K is one of the few races in the Puget Sound area that encourages participants to run or walk with their dogs.

The Seattle Animal Shelter cares for approximately 6,000 stray and owner-surrendered animals each year. Many of these animals arrive sick and injured from living on the streets; others are seized from abusive or neglectful owners.

The Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W., about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. It is open Wednesday – Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information call (206)386-7387, or visit the Web site at www.seattleanimalshelter.org

Please sign up for the orientation by emailing sasfostercatsorientation@gmail.com no later than 5 p.m., Saturday, May 4. Once you have signed up, you will receive an orientation packet to bring with you. Orientation will be cancelled if there are no sign-ups.

The Seattle Animal Shelter relies on volunteers to provide temporary foster care in their homes to rehabilitate and nurture sick, injured and immature cats and kittens or to just give adoptable cats a break from the shelter environment. 

“Volunteers have told us this is a perfect project for the whole family and provides an opportunity for children to learn about the joys and responsibilities of having an animal without making a long-term commitment,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan. “The ultimate beneficiaries are the pets who are nurtured by their foster families, and the families who adopt them.”

Jordan says the foster care program is quite simple. You provide food and a temporary home; the Seattle Animal Shelter will provide any necessary veterinary care. The shelter’s “Help the Animals Fund” subsidizes the costs associated with the foster care program including all pre-approved vet care.

If you attend an orientation session you are under no obligation to foster an animal. The orientations are just the first step in the process. Each prospective foster parent is provided with a foster-care manual and a “case manager” who provides advice and answers questions.

For more information or additional directions call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or go to www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, April 20, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

Some things to think about:

• Every year, thousands of baby chicks and rabbits are sold as Easter presents.
• A few months after Easter, many of these pets are surrendered or abandoned and end up looking for a new home.
• Seattle Animal Shelter always has rabbits available for adoption, and we often have chickens too!
• Really want a baby bunny? Consider becoming a foster parent! Seattle Animal Shelter places baby bunnies in foster homes until they are old enough to be spayed or neutered and find their forever family.
• Rabbits live an average of 7 to 10 years.
• When your adorable baby bunny suddenly turns into a terrible teen they may show aggression, become territorial, and develop bad litter box habits – most of these issues can be fixed by spaying and neutering your pet rabbit.
• Seattle Animal Shelter offers low-cost spay and neuter services for rabbits.
• Is anyone in your family allergic to animals with fur or have seasonal allergies/hay fever? If so, a rabbit may not be the best pet for you. Rabbits need to eat hay on a daily basis, which can trigger allergies in some people.
• Chickens live an average of 10 to 15 years.
• Hens only lay eggs regularly until they are 2-3 years old, after that it tapers off.
• Did you know roosters are not permitted to be kept within Seattle city limits? Half of all the chicks sold at Easter will grow up to be roosters.
• The number of adoptive homes for roosters is very, very low since many cities do not allow roosters. Please consider this when buying unsexed chicks.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, March 16, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

“Guinea pigs make great pets. Because of our tremendous success in adopting out cats and dogs, we are now entrusted with finding good homes for other animals when pet owners can no longer care for them. Adopting an animal from the Seattle Animal Shelter is the right thing to do,” says Shelter Director Don Jordan.

Guinea pigs (or cavies, as they’re sometimes known) are very social. They prefer to live with at least one other guinea pig friend and they spend lots of time interacting with their human companions. Guinea pigs like to live indoors, where they can be part of your daily family life. They require a roomy flat bottomed cage, hay, pellets, and fresh fruits and veggies. Many guinea pigs are vocal and will greet their owners excitedly with “wheeks, wheets and whistles.” Guinea pigs also require daily exercise in a secure playpen, as they cannot use exercise wheels or rodent balls.

Come meet the guinea pigs, and other critters, available for adoption from the shelter, located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. The adoption fee for guinea pigs is $15; adoption fees for other small animal range between $15-$40. The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

Come on down to the shelter on Saturday, Feb. 16, for Cool City Pets, an adoption event highlighting small animals looking for their forever homes. From 1-3 p.m., potential adopters can meet the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, including: rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, birds, reptiles, ferrets, mice and more.

Volunteer small-animal specialists will be on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions. The Seattle Animal Shelter features Cool City Pets the third Saturday of every month.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the care and good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $15-$40. The adoption fee for rabbits will be waived for this Cool City Pets event as it coincides with the shelter’s Hop To Adopt! event.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 15^th Ave. W, about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-7387 (PETS) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon-6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

“Spaying and neutering are safe, routine surgeries that prevent animals from breeding,” says Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “This annual effort helps end the suffering of unwanted and homeless animals in our community by preventing unplanned litters.”

These surgeries usually cost between $120-$155 for dogs, $85-$90 for cats and $75 for rabbits. While there is no residency requirement to take advantage of this special offer, pets of Seattle residents must be currently licensed or a license can be purchased on the day of the appointment. For altered animals, a one-year license is $20 for cats/$27 for dogs, or a two-year license is $27 for cats/$37 for dogs. Vaccinations, if necessary, are $10 each.

Dr. Mary Ellen Zoulas, Director of the shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic, also recommends having your pet – dog, cat or rabbit – microchipped while it is at the clinic for surgery. The one-time $30 fee is a minor expense for the invaluable peace of mind provided by this permanent means of identification should your pet ever become lost or stolen.

“Spaying and neutering allows your pet to have a longer, healthier, happier life,” adds Dr. Zoulas. “It can reduce the risk of serious health problems, eliminate undesirable behaviors such as fighting and spraying, and reduce inter-dog aggression.”

Dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered at five months of age or older; rabbits can be spayed or neutered at four months of age or older. Clinic staff have been providing spay and neuter services to the rabbits adopted from the shelter for nearly 15 years, but just this year opened up their practice to any rabbit in need of spay or neuter surgery. Dr. Zoulas and her team are really excited to extend their World Spay Day promotion to include rabbits, Seattle’s third most-popular pet.

This year’s special offer of FREE spay/neuter packages is made possible by the city’s “Pet Population Control Fund,” which provides financial assistance year-round to pet owners who cannot afford the cost of spaying and neutering.

“Spay Day” is an international campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International. During the month of February, animal shelters and animal welfare agencies throughout the world join forces to promote the spaying and neutering of pets as the most effective and humane way to decrease the euthanasia of homeless animals in shelters throughout the world.

There are several ways you can celebrate Spay Day in February and throughout the year:

• Donate to the “Pet Population Control Fund” at the Seattle Animal Shelter.
• Enter the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest. For more information about the contest and about other Spay Day activities, go to the HSUS website: https://spaydayportal.humanesociety.org/.
• Ask friends and family to vote for your pet’s photo at the HSUS site above. You can even add a vote button for your pet on your Facebook page. Each vote costs $1, which can be donated to the Seattle Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic.
• Turn in a litter. As part of an ongoing Seattle Animal Shelter program, anyone who turns in a litter of puppies or kittens to the shelter, is eligible for a free spay or neuter for the parent animal(s). In return, the shelter guarantees the adoption of these kittens and puppies, if they are adoptable.
• Talk to your friends, neighbors and family about getting their pets spayed or neutered. Year-round the Seattle Animal Shelter’s Spay and Neuter Clinic is able to help those in need with discounted or free spay/neuter surgeries.

To learn about other clinics providing discounted or free services in King, Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties, visit http://www.paws.org/spay-day.html. Not in the area? Visit the Humane Society of the United States’ World Spay Day page at https://spaydayportal.humanesociety.org/.

For more information about Spay Day Seattle, to make a donation to the Pet Population Control Fund, or to learn more about other Seattle Animal Shelter services, call (206) 386- 7387 (PETS), or visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org.