Humane Society of Broward County spotlights Baby, urges adoption over buying

Baby, a 9-year-old border collie mix, is among 98 pets waiting for homes at the Humane Society of Broward County in Fort Lauderdale. The shelter is urging families to choose adoption over buying.

Baby is listed as a male Border Collie mix weighing 49.40 pounds and is about 50 pounds, good on a leash and steady enough for leisurely walks with a household looking for a calm companion. Baby was adopted there when he was about a year old, but after he returned, staff contacted his owner and no one came to reclaim him.

Tolkien, a 13-week-old British Shorthair kitten, was surrendered after his owner became ill. Tolkien and his two brothers have ringworm, and adopters go home with medication and instructions to keep the kitten separate from other pets and wash hands and bedding carefully.

Its adoption fee is $200 for dogs 6 months and older and $80 for cats 6 months and older. Adopters must be 21 or older, and the shelter does not adopt outside the continental U.S. and Canada. New adopters get a $250 credit to a local VCA hospital for a post-adoption checkup within 14 days, and the partnership began in 2002.

The shelter is at 2070 Griffin Road in Fort Lauderdale and is open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the adoption desk closing at 5:30 p.m. It accepts only owned or owner-surrendered animals, while lost strays are handled through Broward County Animal Care and Adoptions.