Special cat adoption fee offered at animal shelter

July 09, 2007|By DAN DEARTH

HAGERSTOWN - The Humane Society of Washington County is offering a special adoption fee for cats and kittens to help alleviate an overcrowding problem at the facility.

Paul Miller, the humane society's executive director, said people can adopt two cats for $70.

According to humane society literature, $70 is the regular rate to adopt one cat.

"It's not unusual at this time of year to see 20 (cats) a day coming in," he said. "In August, we'll probably move up to the 30-to-50 range."

The adoption fee includes a health check, the first set of vaccinations, and spaying or neutering, Miller said.

"I think for the money it's a great deal," he said. "Obviously, for the cat, it's a wonderful thing to happen."

Debbie Porterfield, manager of animal care and customer service at the humane society, said Friday that the facility had about 160 cats and kittens with only 74 units to house them.

"We feel we are at a crisis level with the number of cats and nursing kittens arriving daily," she said. "Most of these animals are highly adoptable, but we don't have the space at our facility to keep them all."

Katherine Cooker, the humane society's manager of development and public relations, said it is imperative that people spay and neuter their pets to help reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs.

The humane society offers the Snip and Snap programs to help people with limited economic means spay and neuter their pets, she said.

"People (drop off) entire litters at a time," Cooker said. "We're not a huge facility by any means."

She attributed the increase in cats and kittens to the weather, saying male cats tend to prowl for females when the outside temperature warms up.

Feline populations begin to swell at the humane society from early spring to late fall, she said.

Cooker said the humane society has a large wish list of needed items, including pet food, pet toys, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, rubbing alcohol, cotton balls, and collars and leashes.

"We can always use financial donations, too," she said.

To learn more

The Humane Society of Washington County's address is 13011 Maugansville Road in Hagerstown.

For more information, call 301-733-2060.

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