By Shane McAdams

One of the things college students miss most about home is the companionship of furry four legged friends. Nothing welcomes you home like the tail wagging of your best friends when you come home, and leaving them behind. However, for some students the answer could be the humane society.

The Quincy Humane Society is a special kind of animal shelter for several reasons. The first reason is that it is a no kill shelter. Many animal shelters across the country end up euthanizing animals that have been in the shelter for long periods without being adopted. According to The Humane Society of Central Texas, approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized each year.

With this number being so high it sets the Quincy Humane Society shelter apart. Even when employees encounter problem animals that have been neglected or under socialized, they don’t simply give up on the animal. They spend their time helping to reintroduce the animal to people and other animals by taking them on walks and letting them play with other animals.

Adopting an animal from a humane society isn’t as easy as many people think. You don’t simply walk in and pick an animal and leave with it the same day. When you decide to adopt at the Quincy Humane Society, there is a process that must be done.

The first thing you do is you fill out an adoption form. The staff then runs background checks, check to see if your other pets are up to date on vaccinations, check your address to see if your landlord allows pets, as well as other checks to make sure you are a suitable candidate.

This extensive and in depth process for adoption may prevent the shelter from making more adoptions. However, the staff members say it is worth it.

Caroline Veihl is a staff employee at the shelter.

It really is quite a process to get these animals adopted, but its worth it to know that the animals that we care for are going to a happy home,” Veihl said.

With such an extensive process, this may present some problems for students here at Quincy University.

Connor Martin is a sophomore at QU who recently adopted an dog from the humane society.

“The process was really way more in depth than I thought it would be. I first saw her when I was volunteering for hours for school. We connected instantly and I filled out an adoption form the next day. The problem was that I lived in a dorm and was a full time student. I wasn’t really able to get my dog just by myself so I ended up having to get my parents involved to successfully adopt her,” Martin said.

It may be somewhat difficult for students to adopt, but it isn’t impossible. There are also other ways to spend time with furry four legged friends that the humane society can provide.

“It’s not that we don’t let college students adopt, owning an animal just requires a lot. You have to have the time to spend with the animal and the means to take care of it and buy food and all the other essential supplies. Honestly if QU students want to spend time with animals the best thing they could do is volunteer here at the shelter, they get to play and hang out with the animals as much as they want, and it counts for their service learning,” Veihl said.

You can follow The Quincy Humane Society on INSTAGRAM and like them on FACEBOOK.