Why Go Dutch? He's Free Courtesy of OC Animal Care Free Adoptions

LAKE FOREST, CA — Can't someone give me a home?

Those dark eyes, the wiggling noses and wagging tails. Right now, the pitter pat of bunny paws. All add up to the perfect time for your family to adopt a new pet from Orange County's OC Animal Care, the county run animal services center.

Adoption fees will be waived for qualified applicants starting Thursday.

Based in the city of Orange, the OC Animal Care is county run, and has been operating at over 95-percent capacity for nearly a month, since they took in a large quantity of rabbits from an area residence.

The facility is currently housing approximately 63o animals.

According to the shelter, that is over 200 more animals than the services typically works with.

“High numbers of animals increases the impact on the physical and mental health of shelter animals,” Dr. Jennifer Hawkins, director of OC Animal Care said. “By removing fee barriers to adoption and encouraging visitors to the shelter, it is our goal to unite adoptable shelter pets with families.”

On October 25, the Orange County supervisors agreed in unanimous vote to authorize OC Animal Care to waive adoption fees anytime its animal population grows more than 80 percent of capacity. The free fees will continue until it drops below 60 percent.

Adoption fees normally average $167 for dogs, $171 for cats and $77 for rabbits.

That cost covers spaying and neutering animals, veterinary services, implanting and registering microchips, and administering vaccinations.

Take note, even with the fee waiver, adoptive families of their new pets will still have to pay for a rabies-vaccination certificate to the tune of $27.

No animals can be surrendered at the shelter until the number of animals in residence drops back to 60-percent.

View animals available at OC Animal Care below:

Dutch, the bunny, photo courtesy of OC ANIMAL CARE