Blanchard Animal Welfare and Adoption Center intake and disposition totals announced

By Jacob Sturm
Staff Writer

Intake and disposition numbers at the Blanchard Animal Welfare and Adoption Center show a
mixed bag of increases and decreases of animals coming through the center in 2024.

The numbers, which were compared to the 2023 statistics, showed an increase of 38 in cats
being taken into the center in 2024 while 17 less dogs were taken in during the year.

Combined, the Animal Welfare and Adoption Center saw 238 felines and canines (up 21 animals
from 2023), while also seeing an increase in adoptions during the year (80 in 2024, 52 in 2023).

A total of 15 less animals were returned to owners this past year.

Liesl Welu, the Animal Control Officer in Blanchard, said the cat numbers are up even with the
TNR Program. She hopes to see a decline in the amount of kittens coming in, but also said the
thought is people from outside city limits are bringing litters of kittens in due to no adult cats
being in sight of many kittens they have seen come through the center.

“The biggest thing we noticed was that the amount of animals being returned to owners was
up,” Welu said. “That just means that more people are dumping their animals.”

Blanchard’s Animal Welfare and Adoption Center maintains a no-kill status, but that doesn’t
mean animals will be safe if they are dumped in town. No-kill status can apply to any place that
euthanizes less than 10% of their intakes, meaning the center works with rescues even though
there are no guarantees they will be able to help.

In 2024, more animals were successfully transferred to rescues, and the center saw less sick
animals and deceased animals in the past year than the year prior.

The center has 13 kennels, which Welu said are not very big to begin with. She said two dogs
can be placed in every kennel unless they are deemed large, and that puppies can have more
than that if needed.

There are also six cat cages, and Welu said she doesn’t like overcrowding.

Fosters for the animals are needed, or families looking to add a pet to their group. Check out
Blanchard’s Animal Welfare and Adoption Center animals on petfinder or contact
[email protected].

Adoption fees are $65, and every animal coming through the shelter get spayed and neutered.
They also get vaccines and a microchip. Welu encourages pet owners to make sure their pets
microchips are also up to date.