photo by: Elvyn Jones

Caliber, a 10-month-old terrier/shepherd mix, gets friendly with Tyler Summers and Amanda Love on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Lawrence Humane Society as shelter adoption counselor Belle Ray watches.

Newly married couple Emily and David Owens made a visit to the Lawrence Humane Society on Saturday to take the next step in their life together.

“We just got married,” Emily said. “This is what married couples do — get a dog.”

Although they were open to any dog that won their hearts in the shelter’s kennels, they were looking more for an older pup or adult dog. That meant they could take advantage of the special the Lawrence Humane Society offered Friday and Saturday: free adoption of dogs older than six months.

Shannon Wells, the Lawrence Humane Society’s executive director, said longtime donor and shelter volunteer Debbie Smith made the event possible with a donation that covered the cost of neutering, vaccinating and deworming the dogs that were adopted.

The two-day event came during a time when adoptions typically slow as children go back to school and parents have concerns about taking in a new dog with nobody to watch it during the day, Wells said. The older dogs are better options than puppies in that regard, because they have grown out of the teething stage and have lost at least some of their puppy enthusiasm, and some older dogs may even be house-trained.

“We interview owners when we take in an animal about their pets’ histories and behaviors and their attitudes toward children and other pets,” she said. “We can’t guarantee it, but potty training is one thing we will make a note of.”

The shelter has COVID-19 protocols that limit access. The protocols require those wanting to view shelter animals or adopt a cat or dog to sign up through the shelter’s website, lawrencehumane.org/adopt, and enter a phone number or email address. They can then monitor where they are in line and will be notified when their turn is near, Wells said.

The system was working well Saturday, as a series of prospective dog owners met the animals in outdoor pens behind the shelter. In one pen, Tyler Summers and Amanda Love were checking out Caliber, a 10-month-old terrier/shepherd mix.

Love said they were looking for a new dog to keep another member of their household happy: “We have a dog at home,” she said. “I feel our dog gets lonely home alone.”

In a nearby pen, Sarah Brunnett and Nichole Reiske brought their year-old Corgi, Bash, with them to see how Bash and other dogs got along. A meet up with Cheezit, an 11-month-old wire-haired Vizsla mix. went well enough that they adopted the dog.

Reiske said she liked Cheezit’s energy.

“I want a dog who will go running with me,” she said, adding that Cheezit would also become a commuter. “I’ll take him to work with me every other day. Right now, I take Bash to work with me.”

Wells said seven dogs were adopted Friday and five more had been adopted by 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Even though the free adoptions only applied to dogs, seven cats were also adopted on Friday, she said.

“It was a dog event, but we ended up adopting as many cats,” she said. That was good, because the shelter has a lot of kittens that were born in late spring or early summer litters and are now ready for adoption.

Those who missed the opportunity to adopt a dog for free Friday and Saturday will have another chance. Wells said that later this year, the shelter will have its annual “Clear the Shelter Day,” at which cats and dogs can be adopted for free.

Meanwhile, she was happy with Saturday’s results.

“It seems like we’re making matches,” she said.

Sarah Brunnett, left, and Nichole Reiske, third from left, introduce their Corgi, Bash, to Cheezit, an 11-month-old Vizsla mix, on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at the Lawrence Humane Society. Also pictured are shelter adoption counselor Ruby Wilbur, second from left, and Lawrence Humane Society Executive Director Shannon Wells, right.