Dozens of cats and dogs have new homes in West Virginia thanks to humane societies that hosted special events to clear their shelters during the coronavirus crisis.
On Tuesday, the Kanawha-Charleston Animal Shelter in the state’s capital held a fostering event, the Charleston Gazette-Mail reported. And on the same day, the Marion County Humane Society significantly lowered its fees to adopt out animals, the Times West Virginian reported.
At the Charleston shelter, social media promotions before the Tuesday event helped the center foster out all but 16 dogs in its first four hours. The humane association was looking to place 73 dogs and cats in homes until the virus pandemic passes.
In Fairmont, the Marion County shelter lowered adoption fees for dogs from $175 to $75, and for cats from $75 to $25. The center adopted out about 20 animals, shelter manager Frankie Spatafore said.
Both facilities said they plan to reduce or halt intakes of animals during the virus outbreak.
The goal was to reduce the amount of contact between shelter workers to prevent the spread of the virus.