Humane Society Black Friday deal a hit

PARKERSBURG - While most of the action on Black Friday was in area shopping centers and malls, there was a special of sorts offered by the Humane Society of Parkersburg.

Mary Ann Hollis, executive director of the HSOP, said the society decided to have a day when dogs and cats with black or dark fur would be a special offer for adoption with no fees charged.

Hollis said the offer to waive fees was good for Friday only. She said the only fee charged was for the feline combo test and vaccination for feline AIDS and leukemia, which is optional.

"We decided to have this since black or dark-colored dogs and cats are the last to be adopted," she said. "So this being Black Friday lent itself to this."

Hollis said the shelter had a good day with 175 people coming through the doors and 27 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens being adopted, 22 of which were black or brown on some other dark color. Hollis said the public was lined up outside the shelter when it opened Friday.

"We even had five adoptions for colors not covered by the event," she said. "Usually we might have five adoptions of various kinds in a day."

Hollis added there are 10 applicants on hold since they are still undecided on what they want to adopt.

Kelly Goethel of Vincent, Ohio, adopted a dog that was not part of the day's promotion.

"We adopted a white dog," she said. "We were looking for a dog like our old dog and we wanted a female but adopted a male due to its temperament."

Mike and Diana Austin adopted a black and brown female pit bull named Fancy.

"We didn't know about the special," she said. "It just worked out that this was the day my husband was able to come with me to make sure Fancy and Sadie would get along. We both needed to be here to handle the two dogs if we decided to adopt."

Austin said the two dogs seemed to hit it off well at the shelter.