Ah, Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving when people wake up at an ungodly hour, fueled by leftover pumpkin pie and caffeine, to elbow strangers for discount TVs and socks. It’s a battlefield of consumerism, but this year, the real winners weren’t humans dragging home flat-screen TVs—they were the dogs and cats of Cincinnati Animal CARE. Because, let’s face it, who needs a 4K TV when you can have a furry, four-legged companion who will judge you for binge-watching the entirety of The Crown instead of going outside?
Cincinnati Animal CARE took a page out of the retail playbook and went full send on Black Friday, dropping their adoption fees for pets older than six months to a mere 99 cents. That’s right, folks, less than a McChicken or your go-to vending machine snack. The result? One hundred animals trotted, waddled, or pranced out the door into their new homes. A record-setting day! But let’s unpack this remarkable feat with the skepticism and side-eye it deserves because, honestly, how did we get here?
Pets for Pennies: The Black Friday Special No One Saw Coming
For context, 99 cents is what most of us would expect to find in our couch cushions or accidentally leave in a vending machine slot. But for Cincinnati Animal CARE, it was the magic number that convinced 100 people to adopt a pet in one day. It’s a great deal, but it does beg the question: Were these folks in the market for a furry friend, or were they just suckered in by a deal too good to pass up?
Imagine someone strolling into the shelter like it’s a Best Buy:
- “Do you have this model in black?”
- “Can I return it if it barks too much?”
- “Does this come with a warranty, or…?”
No, Brenda, these aren’t clearance toaster ovens. These are sentient beings who will, in short order, take over your house, your couch, and your Instagram feed. They might even require more than 99 cents’ worth of commitment—like food, vet bills, and, heaven forbid, a chew toy or two. Hopefully, everyone who took home a dog or cat that day wasn’t just caught up in the Black Friday frenzy but genuinely ready for the long haul.
“Over Capacity” Is an Understatement
The real heart of this story lies in the unfortunate truth that Cincinnati Animal CARE, like so many shelters, is bursting at the seams. Senior communications manager Lisa Colina summed it up with a diplomatic flourish: “Our shelter is so over capacity.” Translation? The shelter is drowning in animals because people keep abandoning pets like last season’s fashions.
And it’s not just Cincinnati. Shelters nationwide are grappling with an influx of animals, especially after pandemic-era adoptions took a nosedive once people realized that working from home doesn’t mean they’re qualified to parent a Great Dane. Pets became another trend—like sourdough baking or Peloton memberships—that fizzled when reality set in. Cincinnati Animal CARE’s record-breaking event is a small victory in a much larger battle to find homes for these abandoned animals.
The Stars of the Show: Cats, Dogs, and… Who Else?
The article doesn’t specify, but we’re left wondering: Were these 100 adoptions evenly split between cats and dogs, or did one species reign supreme? The dog people and the cat people are probably already at odds about this.
- Dog adopters likely swarmed the shelter because, let’s face it, dogs are the extroverts of the animal world. They wag their tails, slobber with reckless abandon, and make you feel like a rock star just for coming home.
- Cat adopters, on the other hand, probably strolled in, surveyed the room with their best “meh” face, and casually pointed at a feline lounging in the corner like they were ordering off a menu: “I’ll take that one.”
Either way, let’s give a round of applause to the real MVPs of this event: the shelter staff and volunteers who somehow wrangled all these animals and matched them with new families. If you’ve ever tried to bathe a cat or coax a scared dog into a crate, you know this was no small feat. These folks deserve medals, therapy, and maybe a spa day.
Fostering: The Backup Plan for Commitment-Phobes
For those who weren’t ready to commit, Cincinnati Animal CARE offered another option: fostering. It’s like dating, but instead of swiping left, you temporarily house a pet until they find their forever home. It’s a great gig for people who want the joy of pet companionship without the lifelong responsibility—or for those who want to test-drive having a pet before making it official.
But fostering isn’t just about convenience for humans; it’s a lifeline for animals. It gives them a break from the often-stressful shelter environment, a chance to relax, and, in many cases, a better shot at being adopted. If fostering isn’t the unsung hero of this story, I don’t know what is.
Community Love: The Silver Lining
Despite all the snark, there’s something undeniably heartwarming about a community coming together to adopt 100 animals in one day. In a world that often feels like it’s spiraling into chaos, this event is proof that people still care—even if it takes a 99-cent price tag to get them in the door.
Lisa Colina, the shelter’s communications manager, hit the nail on the head: “To have this many adoptions and have the support of our community… means the world to us.” Cynicism aside, it’s hard not to feel a little mushy about that.
Now What? The Aftermath of Black Friday Adoptions
Breaking records is great, but it’s only part of the story. Cincinnati Animal CARE still has “hundreds of dogs and cats” in their care, which means the shelter’s work is far from over. The Black Friday success may have cleared out some kennels, but it’s a temporary reprieve. There are still plenty of animals waiting for their turn to find a home.
So, what can you do if you missed out on the Black Friday frenzy? Here are a few suggestions:
Adopt. Seriously, do it. The 99-cent deal might be over, but the love of a pet is priceless. And let’s be real: most of us can skip the overpriced latte or subscription box to afford an adoption fee.
Foster. Not ready to commit? Be a hero anyway. Your temporary home could be the difference between a dog thriving or languishing in a shelter.
Donate. Shelters always need supplies, money, and volunteers. Even if you can’t take home a pet, you can make life a little better for the ones still waiting.
Final Thoughts: 99 Cents for a Best Friend
In the end, Cincinnati Animal CARE’s Black Friday adoption event was an undeniable win—for the animals, for the shelter, and for the 100 families who walked away with a new best friend. But let’s hope that everyone who adopted a pet on a whim remembers this: A dog or cat isn’t just a bargain; it’s a commitment. They’re not 99-cent tchotchkes to be tossed aside when the novelty wears off.
So here’s to the adopters who did it for the right reasons. May your new furry friends fill your homes with love, your carpets with fur, and your Instagram feeds with likes. And to Cincinnati Animal CARE: kudos for turning Black Friday madness into something that truly matters. Now, if only we could get the same energy for human Black Friday shoppers—maybe some of them could be adopted too.
