From pandemic pups to ‘working cats,’ now’s the time to adopt

Amelia has the right idea this winter.

“I’m looking for a comfy house I can lay around in,” her profile says.

Maybe that makes you want to reach out to her, or maybe you need a little more in your life, so you keep looking.

Hames says he likes to take a tennis ball with him wherever he goes.

Or is it looks you’re after? If that’s the case, Hickory readily admits he has “the world’s softest eyes.”

These are just a few of the profiles of adoptable cats — Amelia, a beautiful black domestic shorthair — and dogs –Hames and Hickory, two adorable terrier mixes — available at the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.

The shelter, which takes all comers, has about 300 animals available for adoption right now.

“That’s high for this time of year,” said Dana Peterson-Konzem, community outreach supervisor at the shelter.

The shelter can house 600 animals, and a typical busy time sees about 450 pets looking for a home.

“We will take any animal no matter the breed, age, medical condition or behavioral condition,” Peterson-Konzem said. “We also use our foster care families to house more animals if we physically cannot house them at the shelter.”

Peterson-Konzem said the shelter always is looking not only for people to welcome a new pet into their family forever but also for families to foster pets as they await the forever family.

“There is nothing ‘damaged’ or ‘wrong’ with pets in shelters and rescues,” she said. “The animals just couldn’t be cared for anymore by their previous families. They still make wonderful pets.”

Maybe you love to bake – if so, consider Lady Muffin, a white and tabby cat whose profile says, “I’m always kneading that dough!”

Or black-and-white shorthair Marshmallow and the very sleek black Elvis, who would prefer to be adopted together.

Right now, Peterson-Konzem’s favorite cat is Rhee. “She always has the funniest look on her face, and she loves attention.”

It’s always a good time to adopt a pet, but there are incentives right now. The Winter Whiskers Adoption Event runs through Saturday. It provides $50 off adoption fees for dogs age 6 months to 5 years and a $30 fee for senior dogs – those 6 years and older. Cat fees are only $5.

Need a cool dude of a dog? Rusty, a terrier/boxer mix, knows how to high-five. Plus, he’s housetrained and considered a good dog for first-time dog owners.

There’s no way you can look at the photo of Lore, a mixed-breed dog, and not start cracking up. His profile says, “I have a lot of puppy energy,” but his huge ears definitely say, “I can hear everything everywhere, including from space.”

Many families brought animals home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and remote work has made it easier to keep them.

But the shelter sees a lot of “COVID puppies,” or dogs who lack the proper socialization because of the isolation the pandemic created.

“We have seen a rise in people looking for training services,” Peterson-Konzem said. The shelter does not provide training services, though many of their pets come with excellent training themselves through the Paroled Pups program.

And did you know you can adopt a “working cat” to help keep mice and rodents in check at your farm, barn or shed? There are a few requirements through the adoption process, but then the shelter can help you find the perfect career kitty for your space.

You don’t have to bring an animal home to show compassion or contribute to the shelter. Donations of food, toys and cash are always welcome. “It takes almost $3 million a year to keep our shelter running,” she said.

There are occasional other small pets available – from bunnies to guinea pigs to hedgehogs. They get their own creative bios – also, let’s be real here, it’s hard to look at a photo of a hedgehog and not smile or a picture of a bunny and not imagine the soft, soft fur.

“We love having fun and making lighthearted jokes to help get the animals adopted,” Peterson-Konzem said. “One of those taglines might catch someone’s eye and possibly get them adopted!”