HART begins adopt-a-cat campaign
DON'T PITY THE KITTY, ADOPT IT
It's a number that many people may not want to know.
Last year Heartland Animal Rescue Team took in 1,450 cats and kittens. Of those, 1,062 were euthanized because homes could not be found for them.
This is why HART has started its "Don't Pity the Kitty, Adopt It" campaign to find forever homes for the 40 kittens and 15 adult cats that need homes right now.
HART kennel manager Alesha Luberts hugged three kittens Friday at the shelter. Last year more than 1,000 cats and kittens were euthanized because homes could not be found. The facility has started its "Don't Pity the Kitty, Adopt It" campaign to help find homes for cats and kittens.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
"It's reality," Donna Wambeke, HART manager of kennel operations, said of its euthanasia rate. "And this is why we're doing this campaign."
June is Adopt A Shelter Cat Month. During this month, the cost of cat adoption has been reduced.
HART also is hosting a special "Don't Pity the Kitty" party for cat adoptions only from 2-4 p.m. June 13 at HART, located a block north of Applebee's. Dog adoptions will be closed at that time. The animal shelter's foster families who are caring for mother cats and their kittens will bring them in at this time and most will be ready to adopt that day. If they aren't ready to leave their mothers, adoptive families can put a hold on the kitten they wish to adopt.
Cat adoptions typically cost $75, which includes spaying and neutering, deworming, flea and tick treatment, feline leukemia testing and vaccinations. Wambeke said that adoption fee has been reduced to $50 this month. Some senior cats may be adopted for $25. This fee includes the spay and neuter, which alone costs HART $50 each cat, along with feline leukemia testing, deworming, flea and tick treatment and vaccinations.
"This year our goal is to lower that euthanasia rate," explained Wambeke. "HART is losing money on this but we'd rather get them out and adopted than have to euthanize them."
Wambeke said HART uses the services of a mobile van that visits the animal shelter every two weeks to spay and neuter its cats and dogs. If someone adopts a kitten too young to be altered now, then the new owner will have to leave a $50 deposit that will be returned when the cat is brought back to HART to get spayed or neutered.
For more information, visit HART's website at www.hartpets.org or call 829-4141.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.