Bay County Animal Control lowers adoption fees to help animals find a forever home

PANAMA CITY – Serina Junger says the holidays are the perfect time to help more animals find their “forever home.”

As Bay County’s animal control manager, Junger said Bay County Animal Control is working to help make that happen by lowering the adoption fee this week from $25 to $10. Located at 6401 Bay Line Drive, the facility had about 20 dogs and 15 cats available for adoption on Friday.

All are currently on shots, spayed or neutered and microchipped.

To help more animals find their forever homes, Bay County Animal Control is lowering the adoption fee this week from $25 to $10.let"/>

To help more animals find their forever homes, Bay County Animal Control is lowering the adoption fee this week from $25 to $10.

“We are close to capacity,” he said. “Shelter management is very important. Once we start getting those high numbers (and) our kennels fill up, that’s when we start looking at different ways to help move the animals.”

Junger noted that the facility is the only animal shelter in the entire county. It takes strays, as well as dogs or cats brought in by their owners.

All animals at the facility are kept for three days before being put up for collection. There are also cases where frightened animals are kept for a long time.

“If we find a dog (or cat) that is a little shy, a little afraid, we work with them for a short time,” Junger said. “We try to socialize the animals as much as possible to make sure they will be good adopters.”

The shelter also allows those interested in adoption who already have other dogs to bring them for a “meet-and-greet.” This is only available for dogs, not cats.

Bay County Animal Control will be open for admission next week from 10 am to 3:30 pm on Monday and Friday, 10 am to 5:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am to 2:30 pm on Saturday and closed on Wednesday. It will also be closed for lunch from noon to 1 pm every day except Saturday.

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“The adoption fee is $10,” Junger said. “The (required) certificate is strong, no previous animal crimes, and that $10 gets you a pet that has died or is stillborn, heartworm-immunized, microchipped and paid for on-boarding as well.

“So (the animal) is completely vaccinated and ready to go.”

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bay Animal Control lowers adoption fees so animals can find ‘forever homes’.

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