Mat-Su Animal Shelter at full capacity

PALMER — The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Shelter is currently at maximum capacity, prompting staff and volunteers to come up with ways to boost adoption and raise awareness for spaying and neutering pets.

“We are busy,” Mat-Su Animal Shelter Animal Care Director Chris Loscar said.

According to Loscar, the shelter has been running near capacity for a while. He said they’re getting pets turned in faster than they can get them out the door.

“For every one animal we adopted out, we’d get like 3,4,5,6 the next day,” Loscar said.

Loscar said there’s been an upward trend of owner surrenders. He said that many have reported financial stress as one of the main reasons for taking pets to the shelter.

“It’s just an unfortunate cycle,” Loscar said.

There’s currently over 230 animals in the shelter, according to Loscar. While mostly cats and dogs, birds, reptiles, goats, chickens, and other types of animals make their way to the shetler throughout the year. He said they recently had women drop off a snake that she found in her house.

“You never know what we’re going to get,” Loscar said.

Loscar noted the Mat-Su Animal Shelter is the shelter in the state that has an internal clinic. He said they’re currently looking for ways to provide low cost spay and neutering to lower their overall capacity.

Loscar said they’re also working to upgrade their facility with additional outdoor housing areas for large groups of dogs and livestock.

The Mat-Su Animal Shelter is hosting an adoption event called “Full House” Saturday, June 11 from 12 to 5 p.m.

Loscar said they have been operating primarily by appointment only, but after this weekend, they will open to allow walk-ins every weekend to encourage pet adoption. He said they also offer a name-your-price service to further encourage people to give these animals a nice home.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Loscar said. “Public education and awareness is a big one.”

Loscar said they hold adoption events throughout the year. He said they had a large amount of participation during their Betty White Out event in January.

“We had a tremendous response from the community,” Loscar said. Our community is really what makes the difference… It pays off.”

Loscar said that he feels honored to work with such a dedicated team of animal lovers.

“I love it,” There’s a lot of compassion here,” Loscar said.

For more information, call 907-746-5500 or visit animalcare.matsugov.us.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com