Shhhh... the animals are sleeping!
The animals at Young-Williams Animal Center get a lot of visitors and potential new owners coming to meet them each day so the shelter says it's starting new hours which include "quiet time."
From 1 to 2 p.m., all traffic in and out of animal rooms will stop. Lights will be turned off and animals will be left alone to rest.
“The quiet time allows animals to rest and relax, supporting their physical and emotional health while in our care. It also helps rejuvenate them to put their best paw forward when meeting potential adopters throughout the day, helping to place more of these sweet pets in forever homes.”
However, you won't lose an hour you could be spending with new your pet candidate. The shelter will now open at 10 a.m. instead of noon. The new official hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. start Monday, April 2.
“While we want to be more accessible to those looking to adopt a pet or find a lost pet, the shelter can be a loud, busy and sometimes stressful environment for the animals who live here,” CEO Janet Testerman says. “Animals thrive on routine, and they also benefit from down time, just like people.
During that one hour of "quiet time," the center will close and staff can take lunch or work quietly in offices behind closed doors.
No worries, Young-Williams said if an adoption is in process already when quiet time begins, staff will continue to work with that adopter in the lobby area.
For more information, you can visit Young-Williams.org.
