Pet espousal discounts offered this weekend

Friday through Sunday, Bay County Animal Control is participating in National Pet Adoption Weekend and offering all of its more than 150 animals for adoption at almost half price. The typical adoption fee is $75, but a donation of $35 per animal adopted from Pet Smart Charities is allowing the shelter to offer the animals for $40 each to the public. Animal Control director Bill Olasin said the shelter has dogs and cats from a few weeks old to grown-up adults, and features a selection of breeds and sizes. “People have to get a pet that will fit into their household,” he said. Olasin said he encourages people to believe the animal’s size, age, energy and temperament when making a selection. Too often adopted animals return to the shelter because their new owner did not account for all the factors.

One of the many pet’s animal controls is hopeful to place this weekend is a 3-month-old female bulldog-chocolate Lab mix. The unnamed puppy was found by animal control officers at the back gate of their facility, swollen into a box that was taped shut. She was left in the 90-degree heat to fend for herself. “Thankfully one of our officers happened to be leaving by the back gate and found her. Otherwise she would’ve died of heat tiredness,” Olasin said.

The little dog trotted after Olasin for a few minutes in a playpen Thursday before collapsing into a tired heap at his feet, waiting to be picked up and carried back to her cage.

This is Bay County Animal Control’s 16th year participating in the partnership with Pet Smart Charities . Last year 32 pets were adopted and Olasin said he is positive more will find permanent homes this year. The event is typically the most popular time for adoptions each year.

National animal rescue group brings pet adoption attempt in Sacramento

A New York-based Animal rescue group will visit Sacramento on Thursday as part of its national "Tour for Life," an effort to find homes for homeless pets and encourage adoptions from shelters. The North Beach Animal League America's tour bus will be stationed at the Sacramento County Animal Shelter, 3839 Bradshaw Road, from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The county shelter and different pet rescue groups and vendors will be on hand, and shelter dogs and cats will be available for Pet adoption. The event also will offer behavioral and other information about pets. The tour will travel across the United States during March and April in an effort to increase adoptions of shelter animals.

Walls growing for new animal shelter building

Work on the new facility for the Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center is Moving ahead nicely and the building is already taking shape.Walls going up for new Animal shelter building Crews were busy Monday afternoon putting up the outside walls of what will be the main office area. Apex Block donated all of the material for the outside wall frames and the large and light design is saving a lot of time. They only weigh 52 pounds apiece, and so, they go up very fast and you don't have to use any mortar between the joints.

It's foamed together, and then it gets grouted after the fact in all the cells, Mathis says using normal concrete blocks for the external walls would have taken an extra week. Saving Grace Executive Director Wendy Kang said that she is just happy to finally see everyone's hard work paying off. "This has been extremely exciting; it's been great to watch every step of the process. We are so happy that this will be our last winter in this old building," said Kang. The new shelter will be very energy well-organized, but more importantly, will cater to the needs of the animals at the shelter.