Both the Fresno city and county shelters are overwhelmed with dogs and cats needing homes.

Especially chihuahuas.  

Officials with Fresno Humane Animal Services, which runs no-kill shelters for the county and city, say they have approximately 700 animals in both locations. 

Sally Breyer, the senior operations manager for the city shelter, says just a couple of days ago, they rescued 72 chihuahuas from a home in Fresno County. 

That rescue added to the strain the shelters face while they try to control a pet population in dire need of spaying, neutering, and adoptions. 

Can You Step up and Adopt a Family Pet?

Fresno Humane is working to increase pet adoptions by offering several deals like lowering pet adoption fees, and encouraging the community to foster pets for a couple of days. 

During the Thanksgiving weekend, the city shelter held a successful holiday foster event as a way to slowly introduce some pets into homes with the potential to be adopted. 

“So it’s really beneficial and we’re always hopeful that some of those fosters will turn into adoptions,” Breyer told GV Wire. “But even if they don’t, it does provide us with a good amount of knowledge that helps us better place these animals.”

Holiday Events Could Help Encourage Adoptions

Fresno Humane is hosting several holiday events to encourage adoptions and donations to the shelters.

For example, the shelter is hosting a rockstar adoption event on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Woodward Park from 12 p.m. to 4  p.m.

Adoption fees will be $25 with all dogs fully spayed, neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated.