Home for the Howlidays initiative, offering pet adoptions at standard fees: cats $65-$115, dogs $150. The shelter announced the promotion to move animals into permanent homes during the holiday period and apply to both dogs and cats.

Staff and volunteers at the shelter framed the discount as a seasonal push to increase adoptions and community engagement. ‘Let’s spread extra holiday cheer this season by getting all of our pets into their forever homes,’ the organization said in its announcement, directing prospective adopters to its website for listings and application details.

Great River Rescue’s online pages list individual pets with photos and descriptions, provide instructions on how to apply, and note that standard fees apply. Local supporters can view animals being featured and begin the application process online or in person at the shelter.

Volunteers and staff are coordinating efforts to showcase a range of animals across online listings and at the shelter facility itself, with the stated aim of matching families to dogs and cats that suit their households. Organizers emphasized that the timing is intended to encourage placements before the end of the year, a period when many shelters see increased public attention and giving.

Holiday-themed adoption events, often featuring reduced or waived fees, are associated with higher adoption activity, and national shelter data show dog adoption rates peak in the fourth quarter and remain high in December when many such campaigns run. Shelters around the country regularly stage similar initiatives to boost visibility and connect animals with homes during a busy season for community support.

National shelter statistics provide broader context for the local effort. In 2024, approximately 4.1 million cats and dogs that entered U.S. shelters were adopted, compared to 607,000 euthanized — figures that represent roughly 87% adoption and 10% euthanasia rates of the 5.8 million animals taken in. Those national trends have encouraged shelters to use targeted promotions to increase placements and lower the number of animals in care.

Great River Rescue’s announcement also points prospective adopters toward practical next steps. Before adopting from a shelter, people are advised to honestly assess their lifestyle, time, housing rules, and long-term budget for food, supplies, training, and veterinary care, including vaccines and preventive medications. They should also pet-proof their homes and gather essential supplies such as food, bedding, collars and leashes, and carriers before bringing a new animal home.

Matching Shelter Pets to Owners as an alternative to purchasing pets and encouraged residents to consider matching with animals that meet their needs. Staff and volunteers remain available to discuss temperament, activity level and compatibility to help ensure successful, lasting placements. The reduced-fee window is a limited-time opportunity, and officials urged interested adopters to act soon to take advantage of the offer and to help reduce the number of animals awaiting homes.

For more information on the promotion, available animals, and the adoption application, visit Great River Rescue’s announcement and adoption pages on the shelter’s website.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.