Animal Lovers Rush To Adopt Pets From Closing Shelter
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) -- Animal lovers crowded the Minnesota Valley Humane Society in Burnsville Saturday, trying to adopt pets after learning the shelter is closing.
Thursday, the shelter's board announced they will close doors at the end of the year, saying the organization was victim to the economy.
The animals that aren't adopted by Dec. 31 will be transferred to other shelters.
When adoptions began Saturday morning, people lined up to give the animals new homes.
"I saw they were closing and thought now is a good time to adopt a cat. They all need homes," said Peggy Divine, of Bloomington.
Harold Larsen, of Burnsville, had a similar thought.
"All of the sudden, bang, they are going to close the humane society here in Burnsville and thought, 'Uh-oh, all those animals are going to have to go somewhere,'" he said.
In just a few hours Saturday, the shelter staff said about 35 pets were adopted, at least three times the number of adoptions they have on an average day.
WCCO-TV's Dennis Douda Reports
