The Barry County Animal Shelter is one of 20 animal shelters in the state taking part in “Empty the Shelter Day” on Saturday, May 7.

If you have been thinking about adopting a pet into your family, here’s your chance to get a forever friend free, or if it’s a dog, the $7 cost for a license.

 

On that one Saturday, the Bissell Pet Foundation will pick up the cost of adopting a cat or dog from the Barry County Animal Shelter located at the end of Industrial Drive in Hastings. Hours there will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Shelter Director Billie Jo Hartwell said they are also offering adoptable cats and dogs at a second location, the Thomas Jefferson Hall at 328 South Jefferson Street in Hastings. Hours there will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

All of the cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, had rabies shots, are current on vaccines and are, “ready to go,” Hartwell said.

 

To make it even easier, those planning to adopt can go to the website Barry County.org, click on the Animal Shelter site and fill out a “pre-application” to bring with them to either the shelter or the hall, Hartwell said.

 

All of the adoptions have be finalized that day to qualify for the program, so no fostering will be done.

 

Jean Gallup