What Does it Mean to Adopt
Following Easter a large number of Rabbits will appear in at the T Russel Animal Shelter. Monte was returned because the owners were not prepared to deal with the excessive urination that male rabbits use to mark their territory. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
For a stray cat like this, one of the hardest things for shelter technicians is a lack of information. Without information from past owner techicians have to find out the hard way if an animal is allergic to certain foods or medicines. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
A cat looks out of its cage at the City of Manhattans Animal Shelter. For a stray cat like this, one of the hardest things for shelter technicians is a lack of information. Without information from past owner techicians have to find out the hard way if an animal is allergic to certain foods or medicines. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Staring out of a cage complete with a label reading "I am very quiet and very clean" Ava tilts her head in interest. Ava a domestic short hair has been at the T Russel Reitz Shelter since May 1st. This summer and fall the return rate of adopted pets has been a lot higher. "About 2 of every 10 animals come back right now. It's, not fun to have those animals come back. Because you want them to find a forever home." Andrew Runnebaum said. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
As Han sleeps in the back of their cage, the other two siblings of the litter, Luke and Leia, stare curiously at whats outside of it. The three month old trio was born at the T Russel Reitz Animal Shelter on July 14th. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Luke tilts his head to look out of the cage he shares with his two other siblings Han and Leia. The trio was born at the Manhattan Animal Shelter and are currently up for adoption. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Mr. Skittles, a 5 month old kitten stretches, out while Andrew Runnebaum's scratched hand supports him. Runnebaum personally owns two cats of his own. For the animal shelter getting cats adopted is a hard task. Out of the 98 animals at the shelter, 64 of them are cats. Runnebaum stressed the importance of taking cat adoption seriously "For cats, its extremley stressful for them to move they hate change." A large number of the cats at the shelter but a few were returned because of the cost of owning a pet. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
A dog looks out of it's kennel at the T Russel Reitz Animal Shelter run by the City of Manhattan. Dogs are constanly in demand, but not all of them are available for adoption. Some due to their aggresive nature or disease are quarantined from the other animals. For those in quarantine rescue shelters are their best hopes. Euthanization is a last resort, but Andrew Runnebaum claims that 90% of the dogs are adopted from the T Russel Reitz Animal Shelter. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
While Andrew Runnebaum holds a treat Boozer jumps up for it. Runnebaum has been working at the T Russel Reitz Animal shelter for around two and a half years. His responisbilities as a Animal Shelter Technician range from cleaning cages, animal enrichment, feeding the animals, and assisting the public with adoption. Another one of his jobs is to take in animals that people can't take care of anymore. According to Runnebaum two of the main reasons are moving and landlords "Theres a lot of people that will come in and not check with where they live...With millitary being here and so many college students people will be sent off somewhere else...or they have to move back home and they can't take the animals with them" (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
Chewing on a rubber dog toy, Boozer a German Shorthaired mix sits in the back lawn of the T Ruzzel Reitz Animal Shelter. Run by the City of Manhattan the shelter is curently taking care of 98 animals. Boozer was brought to the shelter on September 4th as a stray. His owners were unable to pay fees to reclaim him and the older dog was put up for adoption on the 9th. (Rowan Jones|Collegian Media Group)
