October Highlights at HATS: Growing Intake Numbers and Hopeful Adoptions

October was another whirlwind of a month for our team and the animals here at HATS. As we move deeper into the fall season, our commitment to providing care and finding homes for our furry friends remains steadfast. This month, we saw a significant increase in our intake numbers, reflecting the challenges and successes we face in our mission.

Our intake numbers continue to grow! We are now averaging about 80 intakes a month this year, and October was no different. This month, we had a total of 88 intakes, which included 72 strays, 14 surrenders, and 2 returns.

The breakdown of our strays is particularly noteworthy. Out of the 72 strays, 37 were dogs and 35 were cats. Unfortunately, only 22 of these strays were reclaimed by their owners. Even though this is a higher return-to-owner (RTO) percentage—approximately 30%—than we typically see, it still means that 50 pets were not reclaimed this month and have now become HATS pets.

Bonnie & Clyde! Came in together as strays, still waiting for their new home!

Despite the challenges of increased intakes, there is a silver lining. We are thrilled to report that we had 44 adoptions this month! Each adoption signifies a fresh start for these animals, and we are thankful to our community for their unwavering support in finding loving homes for our pets.

As of today, we have 209 animals in our care. This includes 67 in foster homes and 142 on-site at our shelter. The number of animals needing homes is a constant reminder of the importance of our work. We continue to hope that we can find homes for all these animals before the holidays.

Fostering plays a crucial role in our mission. It allows us to give targeted care and attention to animals that may need extra support before they are ready for adoption. For example, some dogs require socialization or training to prepare them for their forever homes. We encourage those interested in fostering to sign up at www.hatsweb.org/foster.

One of our adoptable dogs, Tot, who is enjoying her time in a short term foster before she finds her forever home!

Moving forward, we emphasize the role of community involvement. Every adoption, every foster, and every donation helps us continue our mission. We are grateful to our volunteers, donors, and adopters. Your contributions genuinely change the lives of the animals we care for.

In addition to finding homes for our animals, we are dedicated to raising awareness about responsible pet ownership. Education is vital to reducing the number of strays and surrenders. We encourage pet owners to spay and neuter their pets, as this is one of the most effective ways to prevent overpopulation. Studies show that spaying and neutering can reduce shelter intake rates by up to 25%.

As we prepare for the holiday season, we hope that more families will consider adopting a pet. The joy and companionship that animals bring into our lives are priceless. If you are looking to add a furry friend to your family, please check out our adoptable pets at www.hatsweb.org/adopt.

Reflecting on October, we faced both challenges and successes at HATS. While our intake numbers continue to rise, we remain focused on finding loving homes for all the animals in our care. With the support of our community, we believe we can transform the lives of these pets.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Together, we can create a brighter future for the animals at HATS.

As November unfolds, let us continue to spread the word about adoption and fostering. Every effort counts, and together we can ensure that every animal finds a loving home.

We look forward to sharing more updates with you next month!