Mayor Proclaims November As Adopt A Senior Pet Month and Highlights Partnership with Pets Alive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2010

For more information, please contact:
Laurie Ringquist, Director, Animal Care & Control Department, City of Bloomington, 349.3870
Jared Schlemmer, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3406, schlemmj@bloomington.in.gov




Bloomington, IN - Mayor Mark Kruzan has proclaimed November as Adopt a Senior Pet Month in Bloomington. Adopt a Senior Pet Month is recognized nationally and helps raise awareness of older animals that arrive at shelters nationwide, including the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter.

To celebrate the month and promote adoption of older animals at the shelter, Pets Alive Spay/Neuter Clinic is co-sponsoring the month by subsidizing the adoption fee. The normal adoption fee is $55 for senior dogs and cats, but will be reduced to $10 throughout the month of November, complements of Pets Alive's sponsorship. The fee includes a first round of vaccinations, a free visit to a local veterinary office, heartworm testing for dogs, feline leukemia/FIV testing for cats, microchip identification and spay/neuter surgery - a value of more than $200.

"Pets Alive was originally formed to promote adoption of shelter animals, said James McNamara, Executive Director of Pets Alive. "While our mission is now focused on saving lives by spaying and neutering, adoption remains near and dear to our hearts."

The City recognizes that pets provide particular benefits to senior citizens, and provides year-round half-price adoptions to qualified senior citizens 55 years and older who adopt a senior companion five years and older through its Senior to Senior Adoption program.

There are many benefits to adopting an older pet including:

• Most senior pets are already housetrained or litter trained;
• Older dogs are not teething puppies and won't chew your shoes or furniture;
• Older animals already have grown into their shape and personality;
• Senior pets are generally calmer and quieter, and won't demand as much time and attention as younger, more energetic animals;
• Older animals are grateful for the second chance they have been given and will give you a lifetime of love.

Adoptable animals also can be seen on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon at the Farmers' Market, and they can be viewed on the shelter web site at www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter. For more information about adoptable animals call 349-3492.

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