Fairfax County Animal Shelter is trying to drum up some attention for its older furry occupants.
Starting today (Friday), the shelter has waived adoption fees for all dogs and cats 6 years and older as part of a “Vintage Tails” event that will continue through Sunday, July 28.
“With the shelter currently over capacity this event will give senior pets — one of the shelter’s most vulnerable populations — a chance to thrive in homes filled with care and affection,” the shelter said.
According to FCAS Director Reasa Currier, the shelter currently has 405 animals across both its Fairfax and Lorton locations, including 28 cats and dogs who are 6 or older. The Michael R. Frey Campus (4500 West Ox Road) in particular is 20% over capacity for dogs.
“Our shelters have consistently been over capacity with dogs, especially during the summer months,” Currier told FFXnow.
Throughout the weekend, the Friends of Fairfax County Animal Shelter, the nonprofit that supports and raises funds for the shelter, will also give a $500 credit that anyone who adopts a senior pet can use to pay for bloodwork and other services at Pender Veterinary Centre, which has locations in Fairfax and Chantilly.
Vintage Tails lasts from noon to 7 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday. The promotion is in effect at the shelter’s Michael R. Frey Campus (4500 West Ox Road) and the Lorton Campus (8875 Lorton Road) that opened last fall.
Typically, Fairfax County Animal Shelter charges a $100 adoption fee for older dogs and $50 for older cats — lower rates than the ones imposed for younger animals.
Older animals are less likely to be adopted than their younger counterparts, with senior dogs facing a 25% adoption rate compared to 60% for pups, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
However, Fairfax County’s shelter argues that there are advantages to getting older pets, noting that they tend to be more predictable and lower maintenance since they’re often already house-trained.
“We have many wonderful senior dogs and cats waiting for their families,” Currier said in a press release. “Senior pets often face longer waits for adoptive families, and we want to find them homes to live out their golden years in comfort and surrounded by love.”
