GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — This week's featured adoptable pets from the Kent County Animal Shelter are an intelligent older dog and a younger one who is sweet and energetic.
Barry is a 9-year-old American Staffordshire terrier. He came to the shelter as a stray, according to director Angela Hollinshead, but his owners were never found, so he is now neutered, microchipped and up for adoption.
He's a little older and therefore slower than a younger dog, but he still has plenty of energy. He likes riding in the car. He's very intelligent — in the News 8 studio Friday, he was fascinated by his own image in a camera. He knows how to sit and shake.
"There's very few surprises with Barry. We pretty much know a lot about him and he's well-set with his behaviors. He's a good boy," Hollinshead said.
Or you could choose Barkley, a 3-year-old labrador retriever mix. The shelter described him as a a "master at winning hearts and champion chaser of tennis balls," as well as a "certified good boy." He's very sweet. He has moderate energy — which the shelter said was typical for his breed and age — and would be a good running or hiking buddy, though he also likes to cuddle, nap and get belly rubs.
Hollinshead said the shelter is currently caring for more than 90 dogs, about 40 of which are available for adoption.
"Adoptions are a little bit slower" this time of year, Hollinshead said. "We're getting into the holidays, so people are spending more money on family gatherings and gifts, and then they're traveling for the holidays. So it's not really an ideal for people to adopt. We tend to see that a little bit this time of year. And our intake continues to happen every day. So dogs like Barry are at the shelter, they're ready to go and like I said, if you're ready to adopt, now is the time."
For more information on adopting any pet from KCAS, visit the organization’s website or call 616.632.7300.