Wanted: Homes for Holidays : Animal Shelter Filled With Would-Be Christmas Gifts

There are about 85 dogs and 35 cats just waiting to be adopted at the Orange County Animal Shelter, the largest way station for animals in the county.

“We do have a lot of puppies and dogs and cats,” shelter director Jack Edwards said. Some are strays, others are brought in by owners who feel they can no longer care for them, he said.

Although business is no bigger than usual at Christmastime, Edwards said these pets often are given by people as gifts. Shelter animals can be had at the cost of adoption fees ranging from $46.78 to $69.78--which makes the day for many children who receive that puppy or kitty they have always wanted.

However, these pets may not be for everyone, warns an Orange County veterinarian.

“I think people should be cautious about selecting a healthy pet and theyshould have a good home to provide for the pet,” said Dr. Glenn L. Erickson, who is not connected with the shelter.

“People receiving pets should be willing to take responsibility for them and should make sure they are healthy,” Erickson said.

Beyond the simple pleasure of having a pet, there are costs and commitments that not everyone is willing to undertake, he said. House training, shots for rabies and distemper, flea baths, having the animal spayed or neutered, and boarding costs when the owner goes away are some of the less inviting realities of having a pet.

Erickson was not trying to discourage adoption of shelter animals but recommending that prospective pet owners make informed purchases.

The Orange County Animal Shelter and Control Center, 561 City Drive in Orange, telephone (714) 634-7301, is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily except Wednesdays, when the hours are extended to 7 p.m.

Adoption fees include licenses and proper shots. The variation in fees depends on the age of the animal to be adopted and where the prospective pet owner lives, Edwards said.

The fee for dogs over four months of age is $69.78 if the buyer lives in a city that is within the county shelter’s licensing jurisdiction. The fee is $51.78 for residents of cities that have their own licensing procedures. These are Costa Mesa, Irvine, Laguna Beach, La Habra, Newport Beach, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Seal Beach and Westminster.

The fee is $46.78 for dogs under four months of age.