Now 40, TCHS has lots to celebrate

by Dennis Dalman

editor@thenewsleaders.com

The Tri-County Humane Society has plenty to celebrate lately.

Earlier this week, the organization, now celebrating its 40th anniversary, received 10,000 “likes” on its Facebook, which was one of the TCHS’s goals for 2015.

And Facebook has been one of the major keys to helping the humane society save more animal lives. To date in 2015, the average time for animals to be in the society’s care is slightly short of nine days until the animals find homes. That period includes the time required to spay or neuter each pet to be adopted.

Another big cause for celebration is the society’s astonishing adoption rate. So far in 2015, the organization’s rate is 94 percent. Typically, animal shelters’ adoption rates are 75 percent, at best.

“Our adoption rate is quite amazing for an open-admission shelter,” said Marit Ortega, Tri-County Humane Society’s manager of fund development. “We want to give a big thank you to all of our supporters and Facebook followers. Together we are making a difference for animals – one ‘like,’ ‘share’ and adoption at a time.”

The reasons for such a remarkable adoption rate are these, according to Tri-County Humane Society Director Vicki Davis:

• The sharing of animal photos and shelter-animal needs via social media, including Facebook.
• Innovative ways to promote adoptions, including occasional sales.
• An increasing awareness in the greater St. Cloud area about the problem of abandoned or surrendered pets and the importance of helping those animals.
• An ever-growing kindness and generosity toward animals and a willingness to foster or adopt them in this area.

To learn more about the TCHS, see its website at www.tricountyhumanesociety.org.

Its Facebook page is www.facebook.com/tricountyhumanesociety.