Wichita Animal Action League Opens New Pet Adoption Center

The Wichita Animal Action League will host the grand opening of its Pet Adoption Center on Saturday at Towne West Square.

The organization hopes the new location will increase adoption rates and attract customers to the shopping center.

“People have to fall in love with our animals over a computer screen or phone screen, so it can make it difficult to get animals adopted,” said Sarah Coffman, founder and executive director of WAAL.

“People want to see them and hold them and touch them and interact with them while they’re thinking about adopting.”

The space, which has been donated by Towne West Square, will hold the animals in kennels. Volunteers will then coordinate meetings between the pets and potential owners, Coffman said.

All of the animals at the Pet Adoption Center come spayed or neutered and are microchipped. The dogs have been checked for heartworms and the cats for feline leukemia, Coffman said. Cats are free all day Saturday; dog adoptions range from $150 to $225.

WAAL and Towne West Square have been working on the Pet Adoption Center for the past three months. The center is on the east side of the mall.

“A lot of work has gone in since then in terms of getting it ready, a lot of volunteer efforts painting, cleaning, just all of those kinds of things, and here we are, ready to open now,” said Becky Craft, WAAL chairwoman.

The Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by free appetizers donated by Fetch Bistro. Countryside Pet Clinic will host free cat/kitten adoptions as well.

Supriya Sridhar: 316-268-6246, @Supriyasridhar