The Roanoke Regional pound has just started offering adoptions for their animals. Given the great selection of animals, the pound is a wonderful place to find a new pet. Identification is required to go into the kennel area and adopters must be 18 years of age or older. Payment of adoption fees must be in cash.
If a person is considering giving up their pet, the pound encourages them to try Angels of Assisi or the Roanoke Valley SPCA first. Vaccinating the pet 30 days prior to surrendering the pet gives the pet added insurance of getting adopted.
Each year a tremendous number of kittens enter the pound. The problem is so great that only 30% of cats find homes. If you are feeding outdoor cats, please make sure that those cats are spayed or neutered. As long as there is a constant food source, cats will breed. Given the tremendous surplus of cats, every cat owner should spay/neuter their pets.
There is also an increasing number of animals coming into the pound with upper respiratory infections. When you are thinking this fall of getting a flu shot, please consider getting your pet vaccinated. Annual vaccinations will help keep our pet healthy.
Last summer the pound saw a large number of animals entering the shelter as the result of the poor care provided by house sitters. In many of the incidents, the house sitter made no effort to find the lost pet. When going on vacation, make sure you leave strict instructions as to how you want your house sitter to deal with the pet getting lost or sick. In addition, make sure you use a responsible person to watch your pet. In many cases, the house sitter was a relative who was not able or motivated to look for the lost pet.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact RCACP by calling 540-344-4922.