PORTLAND, Ore. — If you're looking to adopt a pet, Oct. 26 to 27 might be the time. A handful of agencies — collectively known as Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland, or ASAP — are holding a large-scale adoption event with reduced fees.
The event, known as ADOPT ASAP, is the first adoption event held by the members of ASAP in more than a decade.
"We don't view each other as competitors; we are partners in this," Oregon Humane Society CEO Sharon Harmon said.
The five agencies — Oregon Humane Society, Multnomah County Animal Services, Washington County Animal Services, The Cat Adoption Team and the Humane Society of Southwest Washington — have one common goal of to adopt out as many pets as possible.
"Let's get these guys out," Harmon said. "Get them out into the fields, out into the forests, and find a big old yard, where they can run around and chase tennis balls and squirrels."
There have been other adoption events organized by all five agencies, but it's been more than a dozen years. Each agency will regularly hold their own adoption events, but this time, it's a collaboration of the five coming together and offering 75% off adoption fees at each location over the three-day event.
"We have small, what we call pocket pets, so there's rabbits; there might be a hamster or two. So, I feel like we have something for everyone," said Erin Grahek, division director for Multnomah County Animal Services. "If your next pet isn't at Multnomah County Animal Services, I am sure it is at one of our partner agencies."
The Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland, created in 2006, is a coalition comprised of multiple agencies dedicated to reducing euthanasia and increasing live outcomes for shelter animals. It was created to look at what was happening with animals of homeless pets and how the different agencies could work together to change that for the better. The shelters share resources, total numbers and will routinely transfer animals to a shelter that can offer the best service for it.
"The ASAP coalition really is a collaboration of animal shelters that are interested in not just helping pets, but also helping people find their pet," said Randy Covey, animal services manager for Washington County Animal Services.
Harmon said last year alone, the agencies adopted out 20,000 animals. Despite that high number, the need for a large-scale event is still needed.
"There's an especially high need right now coming out of the pandemic, we've experienced an increase in cat population and especially a large challenge in finding a home for medium- and large-size dogs," said Karen Green, the executive director of the Cat Adoption Team.
Across all the agencies, including the second campus of OHS in Salem, Harmon estimated there were more than 200 animals up for adoption, but said that number could grow to 300 by Sunday as more animals are approved for adoption.
"I think that giving these animals a chance to show you who they are in a home environment can make all of the difference," Green said. "We have a lot of amazing pets that will be wonderful companions to you and may not show that initially on a quick walk-by in a shelter environment."