Animal Shelter Update

Did you know that cats can go into their first “season” as young as four months old. The Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter is overflowing as puppy and kitten season gears up. This is only the beginning of hundreds of homeless, helpless, unwanted litters pour into your community shelter annually.

If your family pets are not spayed or neutered, it’s not an unexpected litter. You can 100% expect it. Every single unwanted life can be avoided by spay or neuter. Every animal that finds its way to the safety of the shelter cost the shelter $460.

As of May 23, the total intake was 656. The same time frame, outlined below, for 2025 presents an increase of 59 homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets, born in the dirt, in ditches, under houses, behind dumpsters and barns, subject to any number of illnesses, disease, predator and the list goes on.

As of May 23, the total intake for 2025 is 715: 333 dogs and 382 cats in need. There are 178 animals in care: 75 dogs and 103 cats. This number includes animals in the facility, in foster care for medical, waiting on available space, or awaiting transport to a rescue partner.

The Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter offers a discount voucher program to the citizens of Fayette County for the spay or neuter of family pets and a microchip special. A microchip increases the chances of being reunited with your pet by 73%. Call (979) 966-0021 for more information.

Statistics for the week of May 3-23 includes: Intake: 130 Adoptions: 56 Transferred to Rescue: 42 Return to Owner: 1 Humane Euthanasia: 8