New Pet Adoption Center Is Doing Well Beyond Hopes
A city-owned pet adoption facility within a PetSmart in southwest Fort Worth — considered to be the very first of its sort in the land — is preserving the city money, generating business and, more important, hooking up countless homeless dogs and cats with new families. Since the Fort Worth Adoption Center opened April 25 down South Hulen Street, no adoptable pet has been put to sleep within the city, said Brandon Bennett, director of the Code Compliance Department. Every year, about 4,500 adoptable animals finish up in the city pound. Until recently, about 2,500 were put down when their time ran out inside the animal shelter, which can house 400 strays, he mentioned. More than 200 pets have been adopted ever since the center opened, a 100 percent improvement from last year, Bennett said. Demand has been so huge that pets from various other cities’ shelters are moved in, he said.
Each year, about 4,500 adoptable pets finish up in the city pound. Until recently, about 2,500 were put down when their time ran out inside the pet shelter, which can house four hundred strays, he said. More than 200 animals have been adopted since the facility started out, a 100 percent increase from a year ago, Bennett said. Demand has been so huge that animals from various other cities’ shelters have been brought in, he said.
Just as in real estate, it’s exactly about placement and staging — not to mention being available seven days a week. “Pet enthusiasts are in the animal store,” Bennett mentioned while petting a passel of pooches in the center’s play area. “The town shelter is in a distant area, and it’s not an inviting atmosphere. Here, people have clean, enjoyable areas where they could interact with the pets.” Launching a comparable stand-alone facility in such a suitable location could have cost $2 million to $4 million and would not have drawn heavy walk-in traffic coming from an adjoining pet shop, Bennett said. “This is so successful, we are currently talking about starting an additional center in north Fort Worth. We’re getting phone calls about this every day from around the country. Everyone wins, and we have not spent one general-fund dollar,” he said. PetSmart and PetSmart Charities are just as happy with the relationship.
The store provided the 1,800-square-foot space, and the nonprofit group donated $150,000 to develop the in-house kennel with “visiting rooms,” pet grooming zones and cages for about ten pet dogs and 10 cats. “We realized it is good, but it’s been even better than we believed. We couldn’t be happier,” store supervisor Kristal Tackett said. “Folks come back multiple times to check out the pets. We have had people drive in from 2 hours away.” The facility is a “productive model” for PetSmart Charities along with other communities to take into consideration, said Kim Noetzel, communications manager for the nonprofit group. “There are a lot of people out there who would like to rescue a shelter animal, and perhaps they are discouraged,” Noetzel said. “It may be very difficult and emotional to go into a shelter setting.
“There are lots of people out there who would like to save a shelter pet, and perhaps they are discouraged,” Noetzel said. “It can be very overwhelming and emotional to travel right into a shelter setting. This type of collaboration makes it simpler to visit and not be overwhelmed or sad. It is a great way to boost adoptions. “It is a great halo effect for the business, but that’s not necessarily why we did it — it’s for the animals,” she mentioned. The unsung persona of the pet adoption center is Bill Boecker, who together with his spouse, Toni, came up with the idea for the relationship and worked for months to make it happen, Bennett said. Boecker, an executive to the Bass family’s real estate interests, also co-founded Fort Worth Pet Adoption Partners, which finances the center.
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