Oconee Humane Society’s Efforts to Address Overcrowding and Promote Adoptions

The Oconee Humane Society faces significant challenges with overcrowding, housing 26 dogs in just 19 kennels, leading to double kenneling and increased risks of kennel decline with each additional day spent in the shelter.

Additionally, 25 dogs and 158 kittens, out of 542 saved through the foster program in 2025, remained in foster care, straining the shelter’s limited volunteer foster base and delaying adoptions due to insufficient shelter “store front” time for kittens, who typically stay in foster until 3-4 months old. To address this, Oconee Humane intensified adoption efforts with events at their local PetSmart in Seneca, including a kitty adoption event yesterday that featured 8-10 cats and an Adopt Joy event on today showcasing 5-6 dogs and 8-10 kitties.

The Adopt Joy initiative, a PetSmart pilot program running through January 2026, offered Oconee Humane the chance to earn cash prizes for adoptions and entries into a final draw for up to $100,000, a potential lifeline for their animal welfare fund to save more abandoned pets.