Update, 12:35 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18: The “virtual waiting list” has “gone a little bit wonky,” according to a Facebook update from the humane society. Instead, anyone interested in adopting can head down to the shelter and wait in a cat line or a dog line.
Original article below.
The Lawrence Humane Society (along with hundreds of other shelters across the country) is waiving all adoption fees Saturday, in an effort to get all animals available for adoption matched up with their new families.
It’s National Clear the Shelter Day, and new friends — like Luna, the longest-term resident of the shelter — are waiting for you.
Luna is a 2-year-old terrier mix who has been at LHS since Nov. 16, 2020.
According to Elina Alterman, director of development and communications for LHS, “Luna is your ride or die girl! She loves to adventure and be a part of life on the go! She recently traveled with her foster mom to Colorado and proved herself to be an amazing travel companion. We also have it on good authority that she is a great snuggler.”
Luna also loves to stop and sniff flowers, and she is very food/treat-motivated, according to her foster mom.
Over the last several years, LHS has had anywhere from 70 to nearly 200 animals adopted on Clear the Shelter Day, Alterman said.
“This includes animals who have come into our care as strays and never reclaimed, animals who were surrendered, and animals who were transferred in from rural and low-capacity shelters, thereby allowing shelters in neighboring counties to increase their lifesaving rates as well,” she said. “This year, our goal is to make sure that a minimum of 150 animals are sleeping in their new homes at the end of the day and our kennels are empty.”
The fun starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, and continues until 6 p.m. or until all the animals are adopted out. The shelter will be using a virtual waitlist in order to stay COVID-cautious. When it’s your turn, an adoption counselor will welcome you into the building so you can meet the animals you’re interested in. “Masks (and kindness) are required,” Alterman said.
You’ll also need a valid photo ID, according to LHS’ website. You can virtually “get in line,” or learn more, at this link. The shelter is at 1805 E. 19th St. in Lawrence.
If you’re not in Lawrence, find a shelter near you by searching on this website.
And here are more pictures of Luna on adventures, just because.
Luna 
Luna 
Luna
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Mackenzie Clark (she/her), reporter/founder of The Lawrence Times, can be reached at mclark (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
