HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

On Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, Thompson River Animal Care Shelter (TRACS) headed to the PetSmart in Missoula and Kalispell for the stores’ National Adoption Day events.

According to Wanda Thorpe, Operations and Financial Manager of TRACS, 21 dogs and a couple of kittens found their forever homes over the two-day event.

“It was a good weekend at the national adoption event. I believe we adopted out 13 dogs on Saturday, and 8 dogs on Sunday.That’s a pretty high number for us on an adoption day,” Thorpe stated. “We really do rely on PetSmart as an adoption partner, they’re really good to us.” She also noted that PetSmart always has donations they give TRACS at the end of the events.

TRACS is a no-kill animal shelter that brings in mainly dogs from a variety of shelters from around the country. While they do receive most of their cats locally, the majority of the dogs they receive have come from Arizona, California, Kansas and Texas. The TRACS facility has the capability of housing up to 45 dogs, while the puppy house has 13 different setups to house mothers and babies. That means up to 60 animals can be housed in that specific building.

The cattery, which was added on last summer, now doubles as an office area, with a feral cat house toward the back of the property. The number of animals at any time can fluctuate, according to Thorpe. “It really depends on the number of dogs we have coming in from other shelters.” She added that the shelter is known more as a small dog shelter.

TRACS usually has a one hundred percent adoption rate, while there are always a few dogs that are harder to adopt out, they will have a safe and happy home at the shelter, or even the home of an employee or volunteer, until they can be matched with the right families.

Even though TRACS is located in a small town, they have a number of people interested in adopting, who live near and far.

“People come from all over the country to adopt. We have people coming up from Billings, we have also had a family make the drive from Seattle to adopt one of our dogs,” Thorpe said. “I honestly think our strength in adoption comes from our online presence.” You can find animals to adopt from TRACS on pet-tracs.com, petfinder, adoptapet, rescueme and montanapetsonthenet.

The TRACS board members are all volunteers. The shelter itself functions with mostly all employees. However, they are always looking for more volunteers and foster families. “We would love to have people step forward to foster, especially the mamas and babies,” Thorpe expressed. “We also have a number of volunteer spots open right now, even for people who just want to do dog walks.”

The criteria to foster is pretty open according to Thorpe. They do ask for a few conditions of anyone interested in fostering. If someone is interested in fostering a dog, they ask that you have either a fenced yard, or means to keep your foster dog from running away. If someone is looking to help foster mothers and babies, they ask that you have the persistence to clean them up several times a day, as well as the ability to give them a shelter that is safe, private and warm. One major component in fostering is that you must have the ability to let them go when it’s time to officially adopt the animals out. “Otherwise you will be known as a foster failure,” Thorpe chuckled.

The adoption numbers for the shelter last year are considered to be impressive according to the staff. “Last year we brought in and adopted out 1,016 dogs and cats. I believe the majority of those were dogs – around 800 dogs were adopted out. This year is pretty much on track to be around the same numbers,” Thorpe said. “The whole adoption world for animals is getting better and better.”

There are several ways you can help TRACS if you are unable to volunteer or foster. Every year TRACS puts together a calendar of all the animals and their adoption stories who have been adopted out at the shelter. The calendars are $12, and can be found at businesses throughout the county.

If you have adopted an animal from TRACS, they are having a contest on their Facebook page right now. Submit a photo of your dog or cat to their Facebook page and compete for a spot in next year’s calendar. It will help your odds if you can put a theme to your photo for the certain holiday that is coming up.

Another way to support TRACS this holiday season, is to check out their wish list of supplies on Amazon. You will find the specific link on their Facebook page. Renee Long, Animal Care Manager, has taken the lead on the shelter’s Facebook page said, “On the Amazon wish list, you will find supplies that are needed here at the shelter. It’s been very helpful, and it’s been quite a surprise with how many donations we get.” Long stated, “It’s been helpful because we go through supplies so fast.” She also noted that the shelter goes through a lot of medical supplies trying to keep animals from spreading viruses from one another, so it all helps.

TRACS has a policy that adopted dogs must leave on a harness and not on a leash, but the shelter does provide harnesses at no extra charge.

“We chip, vaccinate, and spray or neuter all animals that come into this shelter,” Thorpe stated. She also expressed that their adoption fees can be on the higher side. This is because any animal that is adopted leaves with all their medical done. You won’t have any unforeseen expenses pop up when you take your new family member home.

To learn more about volunteering, fostering, adopting, or if you would like to know more about their Amazon wish list, visit pet-tracs.com or call TRACS at 827-8722.