JOLIET – The Joliet Township Animal Control Center announced it made a record number of pet adoptions in 2013.
The center kept up the pace in the first month of 2014, according to a news release from the agency.
“We had 601 adoptions in all of 2013,” Director Sarah Gimbel said in the news release. “So far, 2014 is keeping pace with more than 93 adoptions in January alone.”
Gimbel said the higher level of adoptions was due to a variety of programs, including a series of local adoption events at area businesses along with low-cost vaccine clinics, an aggressive spay/neuter program, and pet micro-chipping.
She said the agency also had seen increased volunteer involvement because of community events involving the Girl Scouts, University of St. Francis, Joliet Job Corps and other local institutions and organizations.
Most animals that come to the Joliet Township Animal Control Center are stray dogs and cats. The center said 445 animals were returned to their owners in 2013.
The Joliet Township Animal Control Center is at 2807 McDonough St. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday except Wednesday, when the center is open until 6:30 p.m.
For information about the center and its services, call 815-725-0333 or visit www.joliettownship.net.