Valo is 60 lbs of pure love and sweetness, sometimes she wags her tail while she sleeps.

/ Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance

You can’t buy happiness but you can take a little piece of it home at no charge this week. Well, a pretty big piece, actually.

The Humane Rescue Alliance is waiving adoption fees for all dogs over 40 pounds through Sunday, May 9. HRA adoption fees usually cost between $150-$250, but the alliance has more than 50 large dogs in need of a good home.

Ashley Valm, director of adoptions at the Humane Rescue Alliance, says the organization is trying to incentivize adoptions after a recent decrease in rates. Early in the pandemic, Valm says, there was an increase in adoptions and a decrease in animals coming into the shelter, but now she’s seeing a return to pre-pandemic levels.

“I think when folks were stuck at home for the last year there was a lot of interest in adopting a new companion,” Valm says. “Now that folks are making travel plans, maybe they’re a little more hesitant in adopting an animal long-term.”

Adoption rates increased across the country and in the region throughout the pandemic. Data collected from more than 2,300 animal rescue organizations across the country found a significant increase in live outcomes — meaning animals were either adopted, transferred, or returned to their guardian — from April to October 2020, according to the Shelter Animal Count. Particularly during the onset of the pandemic, shelters in D.C. have had the good problem of not having enough pups to go around.

Dice loves going on walks and lounging on the couch with a good movie. Maybe something John Hughes? Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance
Fall into Saturn's orbit and you might get licked. Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance
Joey likes car rides and is highly treat-motivated.Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance
Beluga Blue is a big boy with a big heart looking for a family to love.Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance
Nora is a sweet girl from southern Virginia.Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance
Smokie is very tolerant of other dogs and has great social skills.Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance
Willie is a handsome and soulful-looking dog. He's blind and loves playing with people and his toys. Courtesy of the Humane Rescue Alliance

Despite this, Valm says big dog adoptions have always been a challenge.

“Folks worry about not having enough space for a large dog, which we have found is not a problem,” she says. “They tend to want to go on a walk and watch Netflix with you on the couch.”

As summer approaches, Valm says the organization will have to stay creative to attract potential parents during the historically slow adoption season.

HRA operates five campuses across D.C. and New Jersey and handles more than 100,000 animals annually. In addition to adoption, the shelter accepts volunteers interested in fostering a dog for a few weeks to months while the organization finds them a new home or undergoes medical treatment.

Previously: 
Newly Adopted Pets Brighten Dark Pandemic Days For Washingtonians
So Many Locals Are Signing Up To Foster Pets That The Humane Rescue Alliance Is Rethinking Its Whole Model

Filed Under: adoption, dc pets, dogs, humane rescue alliance,