BLOG: MCHS Hits a Home Run for Adoptions

If you've been thinking about adopting a dog or cat this summer, right now's your best opportunity! The weekend of Aug. 3-5 kicks off the Montgomery County Humane Society’s Home Run Adoption Challenge, as MCHS competes in the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. With adoption specials and festivities, patrons will enjoy music and baseball-themed activities to celebrate new homes for every adopted cat and dog.

Shelter hours are extended as follows:

• Friday, Aug. 3: noon to 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 4: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, Aug. 5: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: , 14645 Rothgeb Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.

COST: With support from Newman’s Own Foundation, adoption fees will be waived Aug. 3-5 except for the license fee required for Montgomery County residents.

WHAT TO BRING: Prospective adopters should come prepared. Here’s a list of what to bring with you and what to expect:

• Please bring a government-issued ID and proof of address if your current address is not on your ID.
• If you rent your home, bring proof of your landlord’s approval to have a pet.
• Collars, leashes, and cat carriers will be available for purchase, or you may bring your own if you like.
• Adoption fees will be waived Aug. 3-5 except for the county license required for Montgomery County residents. The license fee must be paid by check or money order.
• We encourage you to bring all family members to choose your new pet.
• You will fill out an adoption application and meet with staff to help ensure a good match.

WHY:

Pet lovers who adopt a dog or cat this year during the months of August, September or October will not only give a loving home to a homeless pet, they will ultimately help MCHS save more lives.

MCHS is one of 50 shelters around the country—and the only one in the DC region—that made it through the online qualifying heat earlier this year to compete in the 2012 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.  The nationwide competition runs August, September & October and challenges the 50 qualifying animal shelters and their communities to get a much larger number of animals adopted or returned to their owners than last year.  The goal is for each competing shelter to find homes for at least 300 more cats and dogs than during the same period in 2011.

THEME SONG:

The theme song Take Me Home from the Shelter, an adaptation of Take Me Out to the Ball Game, will cheer pet lovers when they adopt their next pet dog or cat throughout the campaign. Every adoption is a home run, and our adopters are our all-stars!

ABOUT the Montgomery County Humane Society:

The Montgomery County Humane Society in Rockville, is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that has provided animal sheltering services for Montgomery County since 1958. As an open admission shelter that never turns an animal away, MCHS receives funds to operate the under a grant from the Montgomery County government and from private donations. The only full-service animal shelter in the county, MCHS handled more than 8,200 animals in fiscal 2012. Programs and services include adoption, foster care, lost and found, rescue, education, and volunteering.

Hours to visit with the animals are weekdays, noon to 7 p.m., and weekends, noon to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesdays.

To learn more, visit our Web site or call 240-773-5960 and choose option 4.