Many area shelters and rescues are struggling with excess intakes and declining adoptions in the current economy. Despite the tough economy, adoptions are on the rise at Wright-Way Rescue’s suburban animal shelter and at its cat adoption locations at several suburban PETCO Stores.
“There is no clear answer as to why adoption figures have risen for our shelter,” says Executive Director Christy Anderson. “We would like to think our customer service, inviting adoption center and positive word of mouth advertising has helped. However, we really cannot pinpoint why our shelter is having success during these tough economic times. The greatest challenge of adopting out animals is not economy, but matching the right animal with the right person.“
One way that Wright-Way (WWR) is unique is its ability to hold pets in advance for pre-approved adopters, according to the organizations web site. The site also lists availability dates for animals available for adoption from the Niles facility. Animals are housed at the Wright-Way intake center in Southern Illinois until they have a medical evaluation, vaccinations, and are either spayed or neutered.
“Many poential adopters have applications on file when animals arrive in Niles and so many of the dogs and cats are adopted out shortly after arrival,” adds Anderson. “It's not uncommon to have a line of potential adopters waiting to pick up their new pet or pets on Fridays and Saturdays before we open. People are also asking if we have animals that were dropped off by people who either couldn't afford to keep the animal anymore or were forced to surrender it because of a foreclosure or a move. Those are the animals that are being adopted first.”
WWR also looks very different on the inside than other shelters. The front room has windows letting in plenty of light and dogs are in larger kennels with windows instead of wire cages. To the left is Muttzie's Boutique, a pet supply story that has food, leashes, bedding and other items that pet owners may need to stock up on before heading home. The shelter offers a variety special packages for pet owners to help them stock up and be prepared for the first few days with their new pet. Proceeds from Muttzie's benefit the shelter.
Further back in the shelter are smaller Kennels that also have full windows instead of wire. There is also a waiting room where potential adopters may view a video on animal care and adoption and a training room for dog training classes.
Most shelters do intake and care at the same location as adoptions. At WWR, intake and medical treatment happens long before the animals arrive in Chicago many hours away at the Admissions and Care Center in Southern Illinois. The Murphysboro facility continues to expand it's mission by assisting other shelters and rescues to help them save more animals and to educate the community on animal welfare.
This is part two of three articles on the Wright-Way Rescue. Part one focused on the Raise the Woof Campaign and the shelter's search for a new home. Part three will look at the shelter's roots in Southern Ilinois and it's efforts to change animal control in the rural Midwest.
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