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Animal Rescue League Finds Success in Sponsored Adoption Events

by Animal Rescue League of Berks County

May 11, 2021

Within the last two months, the ARL hosted two sponsored adoption events where a corporate sponsor funds all adoptions fees, allowing the public to adopt out pets for free or reduced costs. These events help the ARL to give even more pets permanent homes and strengthen bonds between businesses and the community, all while giving adopters a financial break. These events are especially important during the spring and summer months when shelters are typically near capacity due to breeding season and shelters need to move animals quickly to meet the needs of incoming animals.

Most importantly, these events help animals get adopted. At the latest event on April 16th, sponsored by M&T Bank, 16 animals were adopted. At the previous event they sponsored in October of 2020, 37 animals were adopted. The Bissel Pet Foundation Sponsored Adoption campaign which ran from May 5th through May 9th typically leads to double digit adoption numbers over several days.

According to Tatiana Foronda, the ARL’s placement manager, these events have a multitude of benefits. “These events help move animals through our shelter system and into homes, especially animals who have been here a long time. That means more space and resources are available to help other animals in need,” Foronda said. She added that these events cause a spike in adoptions before and after by bringing more attention to the ARL and its animals. But these events are beneficial to more than just the animals.

The adopters benefit greatly from coming to these events. On a regular day, adoption fees can range from $25 to $350 depending on the animal and their age. By adopting during one of these events, adopters save that money and can use it toward food, toys, and other supplies. That’s a lot of money to save, especially in the age of COVID. Giving community members the opportunity to adopt at a lower cost helps them and the animals.

The companies who sponsor these events also benefit — the publicity helps sponsors make meaningful connections with the community. Curin Romich from M&T said, “The ARL allows M&T Bank to set up a table the day of the event to let folks know that we are available to help them with their financial needs and that there is no cost to them during that day for adoption fees. We are a community bank so it is natural to support local organizations in our community making a difference.”

Kyle Barrell from the Reading and Northern Railroad agrees that these events have been a great resource. “We have been pleased with the outcome of these rescue weekends. Many animals find new homes and that couldn’t make me happier,” Barrell said. “Quite a few of our employees have taken advantage of these adoption weekends and have adopted new pets for their families.”

The ARL has several adoption events planned through the summer and fall months of 2020. Many of those sponsored adoption weekends include sponsorships from local companies, of which the following are planned for 2021: Reading and Northern Railroad happening on June 25-27th, Storage World on August 6th, Tompkins Vist Bank on August 28th, and an event with CJ Tire’s on Halloween weekend.

In the future, these events are sure to continue helping animals get adopted. Both local companies, M&T Bank and the Reading and Northern Railroad, plan to continue their partnerships with the ARL for years to come, helping animals get adopted.

To learn more about the ARL’s work in the community, please visit their website at www.berksarl.org, or call the shelter at 610-373-8830.

For national research on the benefits to reduced adoption fees, please reference Maddie’s Fund, a national recognized leader in the animal welfare industry.

The Animal Rescue League of Berks County is a charitable 501c3 organization caring for nearly 4,500 animals each year to help them find second chances in a new home, or to help reunite them with their grateful owners. For more than 65 years, the organization has worked tirelessly to care for the sick, treat the injured, comfort the unwanted and protect the abused. Whether helping people in need keep their pets through surrender prevention programs, offering low-cost veterinary services and clinics, as well as outreach and education events throughout the county, the ARL’s work goes far beyond the walls of the shelter.

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