Article and Pictures by Linda Charlton
The library system is partnering with the Lake County Animal Shelter to bring both pet and book lovers together. Throughout June and July, the shelter’s pet adoption trailer will visit each of the 16 Lake County libraries, giving library patrons and animal lovers the opportunity to fall in love with adoptable dogs and cats while encouraging them to get to know their local library and check out materials like books, DVDs and other items. The tour is titled Tails & Tales.
On June 5, the Lake County Animal Shelter kicked off its summer adoption tour bringing its adopt-a-pet-mobile to Groveland’s Marion Baysinger Memorial Library.
There were just three dogs and three cats at the 3-hour adoption event, but potential adopters who did not find their perfect pet at the event — and take it home right then — can use their free adoption coupons* for any adoptable dog or cat in the shelter system through August 1, according to Animal Shelter Director Whitney Boylston. The coupons are being given out at each of the 16 stops on the library/adoption tour. In addition, Groveland Mayor Evelyn Wilson took a handful of coupons home (with permission from Boylston), saying “I’m going to have them at my council meeting Monday night.”
The approximately $30,000 adopt-a-pet-mobile is a custom tricked-out trailer with two airconditioning units, a water tank, and animal cages on both sides. The custom wrap was completed a year ago in March, just in time for the pandemic. The trip to Groveland was arguably the trailer’s maiden voyage. The cages on one side of the trailer will accommodate 6-12 animals, depending on whether dividers are used. The cages on the other side (not used at this first event) will accommodate many more animals, for they are sized for kittens. And at some point in the 16-stop Tails & Tales tour, those little glass-front cages will have kittens in them.
The Shelter currently has about 100 dogs and 100 cats, most of them available for adoption. In addition, the Shelter now has about 200 kittens, most of them too young to be adopted out.
“We have kittens in every office, every bathroom,” shelter staffer Chloe Goodson says.
Many of the kittens are in foster care, and there are plenty of opportunities for volunteers to foster more kittens.
Speaking of the current animal load at the Shelter, Boylston says “through covid we saw a decrease in our intake. It’s trending back to normal now. The kitten season is heavier than normal.”
Under the heading of unintended consequences, the delay in elective surgeries during the pandemic — for animals as well as for people — has meant fewer dog and cat sterilizations and it has meant a bumper crop of kittens.
Adoptions are open to all, though prospective pet adoptees must be 18 years or older. Dog and cat adoption fees will be waived for those who adopt while visiting the trailer at the libraries, and all adoptions include sterilization, initial vaccinations, microchip and personalized ID tag. For a full schedule of dates and times for this event, please contact your local library. Only a small selection of adoptable pets will be available from the trailer at the events. To view all adoptable pets, schedule an appointment at the shelter or visit http://bit.ly/LCAS-AdoptablePets.
“Our libraries serve as the hubs of the community,” said George Taylor, director of the Lake County Library System. “Using our outdoor space to host pet adoptions while encouraging visitors to stop inside and check out our resources is just one of the many ways we work to serve the public.”
“We love partnerships, and we are always looking for new ways to encourage pet adoption,” said Whitney Boylston, director of the Lake County Animal Shelter. “When people adopt, they are saving a loving animal and making them part of their family. We encourage everyone to visit us at the library!”
The pet adoption trailer will be on site from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the days and locations listed below:
- June 5: Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library
- June 9: Lady Lake Public Library
- June 12: W.T. Bland Public Library
- June 16: Fruitland Park Library
- June 19: Leesburg Public Library
- June 23: Helen Lehmann Memorial Library
- June 30: Minneola Schoolhouse Library
- July 7: Astor County Library
- July 10: Paisley County Library
- July 14: Cooper Memorial Library
- July 17: Cagan Crossings Community Library
- July 21: Umatilla Public Library
- July 24: East Lake County Library
- July 28: Marianne Beck Memorial Library
- July 31: Tavares Public Library
*Normal adoption fees are $20 for dogs and $10 for cats.
For more information on Lake County Animal Services, visit https://www.lakecountyfl.gov/offices/animal_services or follow its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LakeCountyAnimalShelter.
