Local shelter needs help finding homes for dozens of cats - KPTV - FOX 12
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The Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) is at capacity and needs help finding homes for countless cats and kittens.
The overcrowding was recently made worse when someone abandoned between 18 and 24 cats at a Hazel Dell home.
Plus, kitten season is approaching its peak.
Cats typically give birth between May and September, flooding local animal shelters and rescue groups with homeless litters of kittens.
"At this time of year, our biggest challenge is space. Our shelter is over capacity, yet cats and kittens keep coming in the door. Right now, we are receiving 20-30 new cats and kittens into our care each day," said Lisa Feder, Director of Operations for HSSW.
"Our goal is to keep them healthy, and find new homes for them as quickly as possible to free up space for incoming animals."
The Humane Society for Southwest Washington, which also serves as the stray sheltering facility for Clark County Animal Protection and Control, expects to see nearly 2,500 kittens pass through its doors this year.
"Our shelter is full. As of today, we are caring for 412 cats and kittens - which is nearly double our population during the winter months," said Feder.
"The biggest concern is the spread of illness among cats and kittens who come to us with unknown medical problems. Of our current population, 22 percent of those cats and kittens are presently being treated for Upper Respiratory Infections (URI), the most contagious disease among shelter cats."
While a majority of the Hazel Dell cats and kittens have already been trapped and brought into HSSW's shelter, the Humane Society hopes that the community will lend a hand in helping with housing them while the shelter is at maximum capacity.
"We need four to six families who are willing to temporarily foster a few cats and kittens, adopt them, or help us find adoptive homes for them," said Feder.
"We can help provide food, if that is an issue, as well as spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, and medications to aid in restoring their health. We just need the community's support in helping to provide shelter at this time. We have some resources to care to these cats, but what we simply do not have is space to house them."
Other ways members of the public can assist at this time include:
· Donate money and resources, especially quality cat food.
· Find homes for cats and kittens on your own as an alternative to bringing them to the shelter.
· Adopt a cat or kitten that needs a home.
· Volunteer to foster animals, now or in the near future.
For more information about the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, please contact Erin Griffin at 360-281-8786.
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
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