Many C.O. pets find homes during Clear the Shelters

Many animals found a new home in Central Oregon during Saturday’s big Clear the Shelters event. The Humane Society of Central Oregon in Bend, the Humane Society of the Ochocos in Prineville and BrightSide Animal Center in Redmond came together to help connect animals in need with loving families.

“It highlights the needs of the animals and brings focus to them,” said Lynne Ouchida, the community outreach manager for HSCO. “Sometimes this is the first day or first time that anyone has walked into a shelter.”

BrightSide Animal Center had about 70 cats and 25 dogs that needed new homes. The manager for the center, Pat Bowling, said the goal is to have them there for as short a time as possible.

“It brings people into the shelter, and they get to see all of our animals and some of the dogs and cats that have been here for quite a while,” Bowling said. “We are a high-save shelter, so we do have a lot of elderly dogs and cats.”

The Humane Society of Central Oregon offered free adoptions and the Ochocos and BrightSide had reduced rates on all of the adoptions. The Humane Society of the Ochocos had 11 dogs and 22 kittens and cats that needed new homes.

“Clear the Shelters is important, because we are giving the cats a second chance at life they didn’t get the first time,” said Carrie Wilson, volunteer event coordinator for the Prineville shelter.

Over 70,000 pets found homes all over the country last year through the special effort.

Overall, the Humane Society of Central Oregon had 15 adoptions on Saturday and 65 since since July 29. The Humane Society of the Ochocos had nine adoptions and BrightSide Animal Center had 39 adoptions and 84 since July 29.

Learn more about KTVZ’s part in the national Clear the Shelters effort and check out some adoptable new family members at our page: http://www.ktvz.com/clear-the-shelters – and learn more about the national effort (scheduled for next Saturday) here: http://www.cleartheshelters.com/