By T. Scott Boatright
Ruston Animal Control is teaming with Santa to offer area residents a chance to give a Christmas gift of love this holiday season.
Since Dec. 1 and running through Christmas Eve, RAC is offering adoptions of $45 for dogs and cats at the facility. And even better, for those who desire such Santa himself or one of Santa’s helpers will deliver animals to their new “furever” homes through Christmas Eve.
“Even though we’re closed on Christmas Day and technically on Christmas Eve, up until we leave from (RAC) on Christmas Eve people can come in and choose the animal of their choice,” said RAC Director Bill Sanderson. “In other words, if you catch me up here even on Christmas Eve, and I’ll be here on Sunday (Christmas Eve) after lunch, if you catch me here and want an animal we’ll fix you up and even deliver it to your home if you’d like.”
As of Thursday afternoon, Sanderson said that is one cat remaining with another one possibly moving forward and becoming available today.
“We have 14 kennels in our “Cat Condo” that were pretty much full — only one kennel was empty when we announced and started this on Dec. 2 or 3 — but we’ve had a tremendous response with those ,” Sanderson said. “The community has responded very well with all of this and it’s been exciting to see.
“Today I’ve got cats in four kennels. Two of those are to be delivered Sunday. We’ve got another kennel with a cat someone is coming in (Thursday) afternoon that looks like they’re going to adopt and I also have one adult available. I don’t know how it could get any better or more successful than that.”
Sanderson said there were between 12-14 dogs available Thursday afternoon.
“We’ve had a lot of dogs go out,” Sanderson said. “People would come in wanting to take advantage of the deal we’ve set up and then call back the next day saying they had changed their mind and want to bring the dog home now. So they’d come get the dog and we’d take it off our delivery schedule and they would take the dog on home with them instead of waiting.
“That’s happened over and over again. And at the end of the day — that’s perfect. We couldn’t ask for better than that.”
Sanderson said the process is designed to make sure those looking to adopt are doing so for the long term knowing for sure they want a dog and that it will not end up back at RAC sooner than later.
“People come in, select their animal, fill out the paperwork and pay the fee ($43 for cats and $50 for dogs) and they can schedule for the animal to be delivered or they can carry it on home right then and there. That’s a pretty good deal, especially considering the delivery is free.
“But it is a fairly extensive application process because we want to be sure that the applicants are sure they really want an animal and are willing to make it a part of their family forever. We don’t want to see these animals back at the RAC. If someone wants a Great Pyrenese and they live in a small apartment, we’ll sit down with them and explain they probably need to go with a smaller dog better suited for a small apartment. We do the vetting process to make sure it will be a successful relationship for both the new owner and the animal they adopt.”
While the main driveway at the new RAC facility, located at McAllister St., has not been finished, Sanderson said visitors looking for animals
“People are actually coming in the service entrance in the back until they get the driveway built,” Sanderson said.
Sanderson said there are around five scheduled deliveries and two pick-ups slated for Christmas Eve, opening the door for making an adoption happen even that late.’
“We encourage anyone considering this to come in early and select their animal, go through the application process and schedule a delivery or pick-up,” Sanderson said. “That’s the best and easiest way for all.
“But as long as we’re here on Sunday afternoon we’ll be open to try and make things happen to make for a wonderful Christmas both the animal and the owner selecting them. It’s something really special and something we’re proud to help make happen and be part of.”
