Humane Societies in Milwaukee Area see a decrease in adoption numbers due to COVID-19

The interest in adoptions remain steady at Elmbrook Humane Society and The Humane Animal Welfare Society after The Safer at Home Order was lifted; however, both saw a decrease of adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raine’s Adoption from May 15 from the Elmbrook Humane Society

Between the end of May and beginning of June, Elmbrook Humane Society saw a decrease in adoption numbers. This not only resulted in a decrease of adoptions, but an overall decrease in the number of animals that were being sheltered there.

“Our intake is around 70% from other groups, so the transport of animals wasn’t taking place,” said Heather Gehrke, executive director of Elmbrook Humane Society. “The interest of our animals continues to be in place, and we are doing our best to meet those expectations.”

During May and June of 2020, Elmbrook Humane Society saw only 159 adoptions with an intake of 207 animals. Whereas in May and June of 2019, 263 adoptions took place with an intake of 358 animals.

The Humane Animal Welfare Society start having individuals make appointments due to COVID-19 concerns back in March. This resulted in an overall decrease of adoptions between March and May.

The bond of trio cats were adopted mid-April from The Humane Animal Welfare Society.

Between March and May, 470 animals were adopted; whereas in 2019, 656 animals were adopted.

“HAWS will continue to restrict general visits to our shelter out of an abundance of caution, but all of our services – Adoption, Animal Rescue, Spay/Neuter, Training/Consults, Summer Camp – are available,” said Jennifer Smieja, marketing and communications director of The Humane Animal Welfare Society. “We are using social distancing best practices at all times.”

It is still unknown to when they will fully reopen again.

Since the Safer at Home order lifted, the numbers of adoptions have remained steady for both the Elmbrook Humane Society and The Humane Animal Welfare Society.

The Wisconsin Humane Society put out a call to the public where they asked people to help adopt and foster animals. With that call, The Wisconsin Humane Society ran out of animals to send to the public for the first time ever.

“The community support was awesome and humbling,” said Angela Speed, director of communications of The Wisconsin Humane Society. “We couldn’t be more grateful.”

After the call to the public, they stopped taking out-of-state transfers due to COVID-19 concerns. This resulted in a 65% loss in animal population compared to a normal spring season. Out of state transfers have now resumed and the population is slowly increasing again.

For more information on how to adopt: Elmbrook Humane Society http://www.ebhs.org/index.php/adopt-2; The Humane Animal Welfare Society https://hawspets.org/adopt-a-pet/ ; The Wisconsin Humane Society https://www.wihumane.org.