Looking for your new best friend? Meet the cats and dogs who've been at Milwaukee area shelters the longest

Alex Groth, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·4 min read
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Across shelters at the Wisconsin Humane Society, the average length of stay for a dog is nine days. For cats, it's 12 days.

But some animals aren't as lucky. They might spend weeks, even months in the shelter.

Here are some dogs and cats in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties who've had the longest stay at the shelter and are still looking for their new home.

Bella, a 4-year-old dog, has been waiting for a new home since summer 2023

Bella, a 4-year-old dog, arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus in June 2023. She is an active and inquisitive dog who should receive a lot of enrichment, the shelter said.
Bella, a 4-year-old dog, arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus in June 2023. She is an active and inquisitive dog who should receive a lot of enrichment, the shelter said.

Bella is a 4-year-old pup who arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus on June 10, 2023. Weighing 80 pounds, she's an active and inquisitive pup who's searching for a home where she'll get lots of love and enrichment. She'd do best with a family without kids under 8 or any other dogs.

Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus, 4500 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Adoption fee: $75

After her previous owner died, this 8-year-old cat has been looking for a new home

Gurl has been at the Wisconsin Humane Society since June, 2023 when her owner passed away. She's seeking a quieter home without kids under five.
Gurl has been at the Wisconsin Humane Society since June, 2023 when her owner passed away. She's seeking a quieter home without kids under five.

Gurl is 8-year-old and arrived at the shelter on June 10, 2023 after her owner sadly died. She's shy and understandably cautious around new people and needs extra time to warm up on her own terms. She's looking for a quieter home without kids under 5 where she can adjust gradually and build bonds with her new family.

Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Milwaukee Campus, 4500 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Adoption Fee: Name your own adoption fee

Cash, a mutt, has been looking for a home since August 2023

Cash has been searching for a home since his arrival at the Wisconsin Humane Society in August, 2023. He'll turn four this December and is looking for a family to celebrate with.
Cash has been searching for a home since his arrival at the Wisconsin Humane Society in August, 2023. He'll turn four this December and is looking for a family to celebrate with.

Cash has been looking for a home since his arrival at the Wisconsin Humane Society back in August. He turns four in December and would love to celebrate with a family of his own. He's often overlooked by potential adopters because he displays signs of barrier reactivity, which means he gets very excitable and barks when other dogs walk past his suite, but he has so much love to give.

Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, 630 W. Dekora St., Saukville

Adoption fee: $75

The Wisconsin Humane Society has had this cat for more than 135 days

Rooster arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society more than 135 days ago. He had been living outside and required a surgical procedure to correct a painful eye condition.
Rooster arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society more than 135 days ago. He had been living outside and required a surgical procedure to correct a painful eye condition.

Rooster arrived at the Wisconsin Humane Society more than 135 days ago. He's a handsome 6-year-old who was living outside and required a surgical procedure to correct a painful eye condition that he'd likely been struggling with for some time. He also tested positive for Feline Leukemia Virus, which weakens his immune system, but he hasn't been showing any clinical signs of illness at the shelter.

Location: Wisconsin Humane Society Ozaukee Campus, 630 W. Dekora St., Saukville

Adoption Fee: Name your own fee

This terrier mix has been at MADACC for six weeks

Star is a 3-year-old Terrier mix who's been looking for her home since September 4, 2023.
Star is a 3-year-old Terrier mix who's been looking for her home since September 4, 2023.

Star is a 3-year-old spayed terrier mix that's been at the shelter since Sept. 4. She'd prefer a house without any feline siblings, and the shelter recommends bringing in any future canine siblings for a meet and greet.

Location: Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, 3839 W. Burnham St.

Adoption fee: Waived

Baloney, the domestic short hair cat, has been at MADACC since mid September 2023

Baloney is a 4-year-old domestic short hair. He's been at the shelter since September 15, 2023.
Baloney is a 4-year-old domestic short hair. He's been at the shelter since September 15, 2023.

Baloney is a 4-year-old neutered domestic short hair that's been at the shelter since Sept. 15. While Baloney is an incredibly sweet cat, his face might say otherwise. That's because Baloney suffers from "grumpy cat face." Not to worry. Baloney is absolutely wonderful and would make an excellent companion.

Location: Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission, 3839 W. Burnham St.

Adoption fee: Waived

Should you adopt during the holiday season?

Contrary to popular belief, adoptions during the holiday season can actually make for very successful placements, said Wisconsin Humane Society spokesperson Angela Speed.

Return rates of animals adopted during the holidays are no different than any other time of the year, according to research conducted by American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Wisconsin Humane Society doesn't see a spike in surrenders of newly-adopted animals after the holidays, said Speed.

Many people actually have vacation time and are able to spend more time helping their new pet adapt to their new home.

Also, most people who are considering adopting a new animal have been considering the process for a long time, said Speed. In a Wisconsin Humane Society survey of 10,000 people, more than 75% of adopters have been considering getting a pet for six months or longer.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin pet adoption: Cats, dogs with longest stays at shelters