Friday, May 11, 2012

Fraternity helps dogs find homes

By on April 16, 2009

Keeping a dog costs around $2,400 a year, said Nancy Peterson of the Humane Society.
ALEX BUSKO
Keeping a dog costs around $2,400 a year, said Nancy Peterson of the Humane Society.

For Pi Sigma Epsilon, money isn’t always what makes the world go ’round. Especially when tough economic times leave local dogs in a perpetual tail-chase in search of a house to call home.

“We like to do something every semester where we get to use the marketing skills we all have for something that doesn’t make any money for us but helps out the community that we are a part of,” marketing fraternity member Samantha Baly said.

According to Baly, the Adopt-A-Dog day has become more popular every semester.

“We had almost 15 dogs last semester and they almost all got adopted,” the 22-year-old marketing major from Atlanta said. “This year, we are going to have a bigger variety of dogs because we may be having some rescue groups bring some dogs to be adopted, too.”

The majority of the dogs will be from Athens-Clarke County Animal Control.

The current overpopulation of dogs whose owners can no longer afford to care for them is one of the reasons Baly cites that the fraternity wanted to expand the event and attempt to get even more dogs adopted out to good families.

ADOPT-A-DOG DAY

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Legion Field
Price: $50 for Animal Control dogs, includes a spay or neuter rebate, shots and a microchip

“The shelters and pounds are filled to capacity. People are giving up their dogs because they can’t afford to keep them anymore due to unemployment and the economy,” she said.

“There are so many dogs that Animal Control is trying to get them adopted as fast as they can, but even the puppies are getting put to sleep after the five business days they are given.”