Duluth shelter accepts 63 extra cats
It’s Friday, and that means I’d like to share an example of people doing amazing work for homeless animals.
This week Animal Allies Humane Society in Duluth, Minn., was faced with the challenge of accepting more than 60 cats from an alleged hoarding situation, according to the Duluth News Tribune. The humane society already had 71 cats between its two shelters in addition to 69 kittens living in foster homes.
While some shelters would say, “We can’t save them all.” Or, “Lowering adoption fees attracts bad owners,” Animal Allies does not think that way.
This humane society does not place the blame on “irresponsible owners” or “a lack of homes.” It reaches out to the community and asks for help.
If a shelter trusts the public to step up, the people will respond graciously.
Help from the community
To increase adoptions and make room for all incoming cats, Animal Allies decided to waive adoption fees on the 71 cats already at its two shelters, according to its web site. Pictured is Simba, one of the cats available for adoption.
To notify more people, Animal Allies contacted the media and sent out a plea for adoptive homes, foster homes and donations. It asked for help, and people stepped forward.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, 50 animals had been adopted, according to the humane society’s Facebook page.
This is what it takes to save more animals – open, honest communication between the shelters and the public. People working together.
No healthy, adoptable dogs or cats have been killed at Animal Allies in the last three years, according to the Duluth News Tribune.
Duluth has been recognized as a no-kill community as of 2011 and is setting an example for other cities in my region. It’s important for the rest of us to take note of what’s happening there. For example, the group is taking part in Just One Day 2013 – day where all shelters are encouraged to become no kill, even if it’s just for the day.
What is your community doing to get more cats adopted?
Read about Duluth’s ongoing free adoptions on barn cats.
If you have an example of a shelter or rescue doing amazing work for animals, let me know at [email protected].
Lindsay Stordahl
Monday 29th of October 2012
Thanks for reading, Tegan!
Tegan
Sunday 28th of October 2012
Thank-you so much for sharing this story. An excellent example of open admission no kill in action.
Lindsay Stordahl
Sunday 28th of October 2012
Yes, I think many communities could do better with the cat situation.
jan
Friday 26th of October 2012
My community does great work to rehome dogs. But cats? The shelter pretty much pretends they are not there. They only accept cats that have been trapped by someone else and brought in to them..