Plano Animal Services to offer free adoptions for one day

In recognition of International Homeless Animals Day on Aug. 16, Plano Animal Services is joining a number of animal shelters throughout North Texas and participating in Empty the Shelter Day, an adoption effort that waives all fees for one day.

Plano Animal Shelter, 4028 W. Plano Pkwy., will offer free adoptions from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. with the intention to find homes for all animals in the shelter. Adoptions from the Plano Animal Shelter include spray/neuter surgery, all initial health vaccinations, rabies vaccination, microchip implantation, personalized identification tags, heartworm testing for dogs and heartworm treatment. The normal fee for these adoption services costs up to $80 at the shelter, said Jamey Cantrell, animal services manager.

There are 117 dogs and 171 cats currently in Plano's animal shelter and Cantrell said he hopes the event will bring awareness to the adoption effort.

"Even if we're lucky to find homes for all those animals, we would be full again in two days," he said. "[Empty the Shelter Day] is a good way to bring attention to that. The flow [of animals] coming in [to the shelter] is unbelievable."

The largest number of adoptions the shelter has recorded is 28. Cantrell said he would like to see all the animals in the shelter adopted, but "if we can find quality homes for 28, we'd be happy," he said.

Cantrell said each adoption is at the shelter's discretion, and there is an informal screening process.

"[The process] is about making sure people understand what they're getting into and what they'll be able to provide for the animals," he said.

For more information and other participating shelters, visit www.emptytheshelter.org.