With the increase in animals, especially dogs, finding their way into animal shelters across the country since the COVID-19 outbreak, the need to find homes for the animals is at an all-time high.

Currently Sikeston Pet and Animal Welfare Services (PAWS), is full of dogs and cats needing homes. However, adopting a dog or cat can be quick and painless.

To adopt a dog right now the cost is $145. Jamie Williams, manager of PAWS, said that those wanting to adopt a dog that is eight-weeks old, which is the most veterinarian care the dog is going to get, the animal will get a distemper and parvo vaccine at six weeks old and then every three weeks after that until the dog is 16 weeks old.

At the 3 to 4-month period, the dog should be vaccinated for rabies and at six months the dog should be altered (spay or neutered), which is a state law.

“While the dog is under our care, we pay for every distemper, parvo, rabies vaccination and the spay and neuter is also included in the adoption fee,” Williams said. “We also a fecal check to make sure there is no intestinal parasites.”

If a dog is four months of age or older, a heart worm test will be performed. If it comes back positive, the adoption fee goes down to $25.

“It’s the same benefits,” Williams said. “That $25 is with the agreement they will have the heart worms treated one way or another by a veterinarian. Either the fast kill or slow kill method.”

Adopting a cat is a very similar process. However, while cats don’t get parvo or typically distemper, they can get feline leukemia or FIV, the feline version of HIV.

Williams said cats are tested for feline leukemia and FIV before they are adopted.

“We try to make sure dogs and cats are going to a good home,” Williams said.

If a potential adopter has ever owned an animal before, PAWS will contact their veterinarian, whether in-state or out-of-state, to make sure they’ve provided their previous animal with proper vet care.

Those who want to adopt and have never owned an animal, will be asked to give personal references (non-family) and those residents will be checked.

“We try to make it as quick and painless as possible,” Williams said, adding that they are at the veterinarian’s mercy though if a dog is over six months of age and waiting to be altered. “If they are over six months of age, we want them to stay under our care until they’re ready to go home.”

Anyone who is slightly interested in adopting an animal should call Sikeston PAWS at 471-7387 and make an appointment.