While the coronavirus situation and the stay-at-home order are affecting many people’s work and daily lives, they are also having an effect on animals looking for a home.
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ROCHELLE – While the coronavirus situation and the stay-at-home order are affecting many people’s work and daily lives, they are also having an effect on animals looking for a home.
Local animal shelter Tails Humane Society, located in DeKalb, had been experiencing record high adoption rates for 2019 and early 2020. But, once the coronavirus pandemic began and the stay-at-home orders were issued, those rates began to decline quickly.
“Unfortunately, we have seen quite a drastic decrease in adoption rates in the last few weeks,” said Michelle Groeper, executive director at Tails. “We were doing record adoption rates in 2019 and early in 2020. Then, everything came to screeching halt when the shelter-in-place order was given.”
When the order was given, the shelter was closed and all the animals were put into foster homes. Since then, some of the animals have been brought back to the shelter, and the shelter currently has 10 animals that are up for adoption by appointment.
The shelter believes that one of the main reasons for the large decrease in adoptions is being unable to come into the shelter and have a large number of animals to choose from.
“Before the stay-at-home order was ordered we had specific adoption hours with 60-plus animals for people to come in and choose from,” said Groeper. “Now, all adoptions are done by scheduling an appointment and we have far fewer animals.”
Adoption appointments can be made by email at info@tailshumanesoceity.org or by calling 815-758-2457 Ext. 153 and leaving a message. The shelter would like everyone to know that it is practicing all CDC recommendations during adoption appointments.
While the effects from this situation may take some time to pass, even once the stay-at-home order has expired, Tails is really thankful for all of the support it has received from the community and is hopeful that adoption rates will return to what they once were.
“We are unsure, but we are very hopeful that as soon as the animals are back in the shelter, the people will come back too,” said Groeper. We’re so impressed by how the community has supported us and how our team has pulled together through these really trying times.”
