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Even as parts of the economy have reopened and many have returned to work, the COVID-19 pandemic shows little signs of abating anytime soon.

Whether you’re working from home, or simply find yourself in need of company and stimulation, adopting a pet is something to consider.

The City of LaGrange is participating in a nationwide, annual “Clear the Shelters” event to help find loving homes for animals in need. Adoptable dogs and cats will be half price during the month of August.

Every year, kitten and puppy season leave countless cats and dogs in crowded shelters. You can give yourself and an animal a life of mutual love and  fulfillment through adoption.

Or better yet, adopt an older animal, as kittens and puppies are usually the first to be chosen. You might just find it’s more appreciative of you than a newborn.

Sure, you could shop instead of adopt. You could buy your pet from an expensive breeder, where it will likely be bought anyway. But with so many animals in need of support, we’d ask you to instead help one that’s truly in need.

Prices range, but with the discount, they’re $8 to $37.50, depending on the animal and whether it’s been fixed, vaccinated and microchipped. According to LaGrange Animal Services supervisor Chris Bussey, most of the animals have received those services, which makes adoption even more easy and affordable. (Fees are cheaper for animals that are fixed, vaccinated and microchipped.)

Plus, if you adopt on Aug. 29, the fee will be completely waived.

Bussey told us that 10 animals had been adopted as of Aug. 4, but there were still 14 dogs and 60 cats in need of a home.

To be clear, pet ownership is not for everyone. We urge you to be thoughtful and intentional about the decision. Don’t be one of those owners who rescues a pet, only to call it quits after a few weeks and send it back to the shelter.

However, if you can handle the responsibility, don’t delay — you’re not likely to regret it. If you take good care of it, a pet will love you better than any human.

So, if you’re interested, stop by the animal shelter on Orchard Hill road or Petsense off Commerce Avenue. Note: Petsense, which partners with the city, only shelters cats.

Because of social distancing, the shelter can only allow one family at a time to enter the shelter and view animals. Bussey said appointments, available from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., must be made to visit the shelter, with most appointments for a weekday booked up by afternoon the day before.

The shelter will also operate its mobile adoption unit in the Petsense parking lot this Saturday, Aug. 8, and on Aug. 29. The shelter’s normal Saturday closing hour of 2 p.m. will be extended on Aug. 29 to 5 p.m. Petsense is open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.