In a bid to increase pet adoptions and reduce euthanasia rates at Morgan County Animal Control, newly hired Director Darren Tucker has expanded adoption hours to include Saturday.

Tucker said the shelter took in 108 dogs and 103 cats during his first month on the job. It surrendered 17 cats and 12 dogs to rescue groups and adopted out another three cats and five dogs to new homes.

It also euthanized 42 dogs and 66 cats, he said. Noting that some animals are not adoptable for health reasons and that the shelter has limited space and resources, Tucker called euthanasia at the public shelter a necessary evil.

But he also said he is hoping to reduce the shelters euthanasia rates by increasing adoptions and encouraging more county residents to spay and neuter their pets.

The shelter is now open from 9 to 11:30 a.m. each Saturday, starting this past weekend. Normally, the shelter, located in Hartselle, has been only open for adoptions 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Tucker said he is hopeful the expanded hours allow more people to visit the shelter, increasing the odds of pets getting adopted.

Were blessed to have a lot of no-kill shelters that come through here, but just to be perfectly honest, if you have two or three rescue groups that come through and then you have people who want to adopt a dog come through and that animal is still in the kennel, it doesnt look good, and you can only keep them for so long, he said.

Tucker is also planning an open house from 8:30 a.m. to noon July 29 to help raise awareness about the shelter and its animals which he said is the greatest challenge for the moment and to educate the public about the importance of vaccinations, the countys leash laws, and the need to spay and neuter pets.

A lot of people arent aware that in the county we have a leash law, he said.

While prices have not been solidified, the open house will feature reduced-cost adoptions, pending the results of fundraising efforts through the sale of T-shirts and animal-identification microchips.

Tucker said a local veterinarian technician is volunteering her services to microchip pets for a reduced cost of about $15 during the open house. The revenue will help reduce adoption costs, he said, and pet owners are asked to schedule microchipping in advance to ensure there are enough time slots.

Tucker said he is also taking pre-orders for T-shirts as part of a fundraiser to reduce adoption costs. Current adoption prices are $110 for a dog and $80 for a cat. That covers the cost of spaying and neutering, health checks and vaccinations.

May numbers at the shelter were up from March, when the shelter took in 65 dogs, 22 cats, turned over 24 to rescue groups and euthanized nine dogs and eight cats, according to County Commission Chairman Ray Long.

At Decatur Animal Services, Kennel Manager Kari Hallman said adoption rates and dropoffs generally increase this time of year, because of litter season and because kids are out of school for the summer and more likely to adopt.

The Decatur shelter took in 90 cats and 139 dogs in May. It euthanized 26 dogs, including 11 sick or injured and 15 feral dogs, and 60 cats, including 15 that were aggressive toward people or other animals, 28 sick or injured, 10 feral cats and seven at their owner's request.

For anyone looking to adopt an animal that might not otherwise find an owner, Hallman said adult dogs and cats, especially black ones, are at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting the eye of a potential new owner.

They dont even see them. They tend to walk by them and go to the brown dog, she said.

Additionally, dogs with any health problems are less likely to be adopted, she said.

No one wants high euthanasia rates, said Brian Lundberg, manager of Decatur Animal Services. I think the best answer is the most obvious, spay and neuter awareness, and actually practicing it.

Lundberg said most people do a good job at that, but we need everyone onboard to make real tangible progress.

Read more:

New Morgan animal shelter director wants to curb euthanasia ... - The Decatur Daily