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St. Louis County waives adoption fees at holiday event in Olivette
Summary
St. Louis County held a two-day "Home for the Holiday" fee-waived adoption event at the St. Louis County Animal Adoption Center in Olivette. Organizers said adoption fees were waived and every adopted pet would be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped at no cost.
St. Louis County hosted a two-day "Home for the Holiday" fee-waived adoption event at the St. Louis County Animal Adoption Center in Olivette, organizers said, with the aim of matching animals to families during the holiday season.
"Our goal is to match animals, pets with loving families for the holiday season," Dr. Page told attendees as the event opened. County officials said the outreach follows a change in county rules that allows the shelter to waive adoption fees.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham, director of public health for St. Louis County, said the adoption-center staff and rescue partners have worked to reduce shelter populations that at times this fall exceeded 200 dogs. "So today and tomorrow, all adoption fees will be waived, and every adopted pet will be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped at no cost," Cunningham said. She added that the center extended hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate more adopters.
Organizers framed the fee waiver as a way to remove economic barriers to adoption and to reduce crowding that can increase disease risk in shelters. Dr. Page described one recent placement in which staff matched a woman named Shalena with a dog named Jack; Page said, "Since Shalena has adopted Jack, she's gotten out of her house more in the past month than she did in the prior two years. Jack is now training to be an emotional support animal."
Cunningham also described the department's broader community supports, saying her team recently helped distribute baby formula, diapers and wipes to more than 200 families and that pet food is available to households in need at the Olivette shelter. She encouraged residents who encounter animal control officers in the field to ask for a bag of pet food from on-duty trucks.
The event organizers asked the public to spread the word about the temporary fee waiver and the shelter's services. The county encouraged people who cannot adopt to consider donating pet food or volunteering with foster programs that county officials said have helped increase placements.
No formal vote or additional policy change was recorded at the event; county officials described this as an implementation of rules passed previously by the county council that permit fee waivers.
The shelter is accepting adoptions and inquiries at the St. Louis County Animal Adoption Center in Olivette during the expanded hours announced by Dr. Cunningham.
