BANGOR, Maine — While walking through the Bangor Humane Society's animal shelter, you'd likely have a hard time finding an empty kennel.
"Intakes have been going up significantly ever since the pandemic and we haven't really been able to turn the tide," Bangor Humane Society Director of Development and Communications Kathryn Ravenscraft said while standing in front of two-year-old cat Carter.
Ravenscraft and other humane society staff explained how there are often many obstacles that can prevent people from adopting one of the hundreds of animals at the shelter, with one common reason being money.
"There are times when the adoption fee can be a barrier to adopting an animal," Ravenscraft said.
During the week of Oct. 21, though, the shelter is offering a 50 percent discount on adoption fees as well as free resources like name tags and treats. Ravenscraft said they're hoping to make the financial stresses of pet ownership a little more bearable with help from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Quirk Subaru.
"There are a lot of people out there that would make great pet owners or great pet families and sometimes that initial cost can get in the way," Quirk Subaru Assistant Sales Manager Stanley McArthur said.
The week-long fundraiser also involves filling two Subaru Foresters provided by Quirk Subaru.
"A lot of our service customers when they were in this week, they saw the flyers and as they were waiting for their car to get fixed, they dropped by the store, grabbed a few things, and came by to drop it off," McArthur said.
Bangor Humane Society staff said donations like towels and food allow the shelter to care for the more than 250 animals they have waiting to find a home.
"The more that we can get out the door and adopted and home with families the more we can bring in and help," Ravenscraft added.
For animals like four-month-old kitten GiGi, events like these are sometimes all that's needed to find the right owner.
"With just how sweet she was when we first met and just how very loving she already is, I think it'll be a good fit," Bangor resident Adryanna Oliveira said while playing with the newest member of her family.
And, according to Ravenscraft, GiGi is just one of 50 pets that have been adopted during the event.
If you're interested in adopting an animal of your own, you can click here to view the shelter's pet listings.
