A new place to adopt a best friend has opened on Madison’s West Side.

More than 30 matches already have been made — for a fee — and relationships have been sealed with wet kisses and purrs of delight.

The Dane County Humane Society’s West Side Adoption Center, which opened May 26, will have its grand opening Saturday. The facility’s address is 7475 Mineral Point Road but it is in a shopping center on D’Onofrio Drive near Pedro’s Mexican Restaurante and Pier 1.

The new space, about 2,600 square feet, has room for about 14 cats, two to four dogs and three setups for hamsters and gerbils. Rescued animals still must be taken to the Humane Society’s main facility at 5132 Voges Road, as the new location only has space to house a handful of animals ready for adoption.

A big advantage to the new center is the dog adoptions, which can’t happen at the society’s four satellite centers at Mounds Pet Food Warehouses throughout Dane County,  said Gayle Viney, the society’s public relations coordinator.

Despite the limited number of dogs at the new location, potential pet owners are encouraged to stop in to discuss adoption possibilities, said Doug Brown, the society’s adoption manager.

In 2008, the Dane County Humane Society had 1,921 cat adoptions and 919 dog adoptions. This year, the goal is to increase those numbers by 10 percent, in part through the new West Side location.

Money to start the new adoption center came from a $3,000 grant, which paid for initial setup costs. The society has a contract to lease the space, which also sells some pet supplies, until October — sort of a trial run to see if there’s enough interest, Brown said.

Brown envisions the West Side location being more convenient for residents of that area, but also more accessible for people who depend on public transportation because it’s on a bus line. “This has the potential to tap into even a new volunteer pool,” he said.

And volunteers are crucial, especially for taking dogs on the all-important walks, which are even more necessary because the location is staffed by only one person and doesn’t come with adjacent green space.

Even volunteering to take a dog for a 15 minute walk around the block is “incredibly helpful,” Brown said.

IF YOU GO

What: The grand opening of Dane County Humane Society’s new West Side Adoption Center, on D’Onofrio Drive. Its address is 7475 Mineral Point Road and its phone number is 608-827-8997.

When: The opening runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and the center is open until 7 p.m. Festivities include discounts on pet microchipping from 10 a.m. until noon; prizes; and a visit from Maddie the Maddie’s Fund mascot.

Volunteering: For information, visit www.giveshelter.org, e-mail volunteer@giveshelter.org or call 608-838-0413 ext. 114.

Donating: To make a donation, visit www.giveshelter.org, contact Julie at jlussier@giveshelter.org or call 608-838-0413
ext. 128.