Animal Shelter Moves to Managed Admissions Jan. 1
By: City of Newport News
| New process aims to have best possible outcome for animals |
| The staff at the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter (PRAS) is dedicated to providing the best care for the animals there, but shelter life is still very stressful for pets. In order to have the best possible outcome and limit the time animals spend in the shelter, PRAS is moving to a managed, or scheduled, admissions process for owner-surrendered pets effective Jan. 1. With thousands of animals coming through the PRAS doors each year, space in the shelter is limited. A managed admissions process allows for owner surrenders to be done by appointment based on the shelter’s capacity to provide humane care and assure the best, most appropriate outcome for each animal admitted. Surrendering your pet to the shelter should be your last resort. If you can no longer care for your pet, PRAS offers a Pet Resources booklet with surrender alternative options, information, and resources to help you make the best possible decision for your companion animal. The booklet contains information on: rehoming your pet; lost and found pet assistance; spaying/neutering; low-cost vaccines and vet services; hospice care; domestic violence; community cats; wildlife; behavior/training; military deployment alternatives; and much more. Managed admission aligns with shelter’s mission to rehome, reunite, and re-educate by supporting pet owners with resources to help mitigate the need for immediate surrender, to educate on areas where support may help owners keep their companion or rehome utilizing “out of shelter” resources, and ultimately help provide positive outcomes for more pets. If you are a pet owner in Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and York County who can no longer care for your pet and are looking to surrender the animal, contact PRAS at 757-933-8900 or pras-reunite@nnva.gov to schedule an appointment. An admission counselor will talk with you, answer questions, provide options, information and resources, and help ensure you are involved throughout the process. For more information about the shelter, visit the PRAS website. |