AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Dozens of dogs and cats at Augusta Animal Services need temporary homes for Thanksgiving week, and shelter officials say the program could lead to permanent adoptions.
The shelter’s “Home for the Holidays” program allows families to take animals home from Saturday through Dec. 2.
“Last year for Thanksgiving we had 36 dogs and cats go home for the holidays which is fantastic for the animals. They have a mental health week, they get away and distress. Research has proven that it is terrific for them,” said Crystal Eskola, deputy director of Augusta Animal Services.
Seventy-two percent of families who participated last year ended up adopting their temporary pets permanently. Eskola said one family who took a dog home last Thanksgiving returned at Christmas to adopt a second animal.
“We had someone come last week bringing us donations. She said she got a dog last Thanksgiving for home for the holidays and came back for Christmas and found a companion, so she has two Home for the Holiday dogs,” Eskola said.
Volunteer Amira Flores said seeing long-term shelter animals find homes brings satisfaction.
“There’s a lot of hard parts, but there’s also some good parts and seeing animals go home, particularly ones that have been here a long time makes me really happy,” Flores said.
Foster families are encouraged to take photos and share information about their temporary pets to help with future adoptions. The program also provides mental health benefits for the animals.
“It’s also really good for our animals because it allows them to get out of the shelter and even if they come back they have had time to decompress and we have new information to share so they can be adopted easier,” Flores said.
Families can pick up dogs or cats starting Saturday at noon and must return them by Dec. 2. Cat adopters must bring carriers. Puppies and kittens are not available for the holiday program but can be adopted permanently.
The Aiken County Animal Shelter also offers a similar holiday foster program.
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