Adopting a tiny furry friend is now more expensive in Loudoun County.
The Board of Supervisors approved a request from the Animal Care and Control Department to increase its adoption fees for puppies from $50 to $75 and for kittens from $20 to $50. The move would bring in an estimated $11,200 increase in annual revenue.
“We have really done a lot of research into other jurisdictions,” said Laura Rizer, community outreach manager for the Animal Care and Control Department. “Puppies and kittens are so incredibly desirable that we don’t think it will be an issue. That fee had not increased for several years, so we are just bringing it in line with other jurisdictions.”
Indeed, adopting a fuzzball in Loudoun still would cost less than some nearby jurisdictions, even with the fee increase.
The Arlington Animal Welfare League charges a flat rate of $120 for dogs and $100 for cats. The Alexandria Animal Welfare League’s rates are $150 for dogs, $120 for cats, and $200 for two kittens (8 weeks to 1 year old). In Fairfax, it costs $40 to adopt a dog from the county animal shelter and $30 for a cat.
Loudoun defines puppies and kittens as dogs and cats that are 6 months old or younger.
The Animal Welfare League in Arlington is still busy, said Rebecca Ylo, adoption manager for the agency. Since puppies and kittens are so popular, she said she didn’t know if fee increases would result in a drop-off in adoptions.
“You’re getting a lot [more] kittens during the summer months, and those are the ones [where] you have to do the spaying and neutering,” she said.
Indeed, “kitten season” — which runs from early spring until late fall — is in full swing, according to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“Each year, as the warm weather approaches, shelters across the country are inundated with hundreds of kittens without homes,” said Aimee Hartmann, senior director of the ASPCA Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics.
But the Humane Society of Loudoun County has seen fewer adoptions recently, said President Cathy Brice.
“I think you’ll definitely find that with [many] jurisdictions,” said. “But it certainly wouldn’t make us increase the fees. I don’t know why they would be doing that.”
