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SNS local mobileHumane Society has so many cats they're willing to give them away
All the free felines have been checked by a vet, dewormed and vaccinated for feline leukemia; some also have been vaccinated for rabies.
View photos of some of the cats up for adoption
Monday, December 11, 2006
If you listen really hard, the chorus of meows surrounding Ed Sisler oddly resembles "Feline Navidad."
But he's hoping a special offer from the Clark County Humane Society soon has cages of kitties crooning "I'll be home for Christmas" instead. The agency is giving cats away free now through next Monday, said Sisler, director of the humane society.
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Sisler said the humane society has never made this type of offer before.
"We're not looking for money. We're looking to save cats," he said.
The normal $45 to $65 fee to adopt a cat is being waived to help reduce overcrowding. The agency currently is sheltering 127 cats even though its capacity is 80.
"When we hit the Thanksgiving holiday, it's like everyone decided they wanted to get a turkey and get rid of the cat. I mean, they just came in droves," Sisler said.
People have dropped off more animals lately because warm weather led to a longer breeding season and animal shelters in neighboring counties are short on space.
If homes aren't found for the extra cats next week, they'll have to be euthanized, he said. That's a heartbreaking prospect for Sisler, who said it would be nearly impossible to choose which perfectly healthy, vaccinated cats must die.
All the cats have been checked by a veterinarian, dewormed and vaccinated for feline leukemia. Some also have been inoculated for rabies.
The cats won't be given to just anyone, only to "qualified" applicants that Sisler trusts to offer good care.
Potential owners must fill out a questionnaire designed to root out anyone who hoards or mistreats animals. Sisler also said he'll call the veterinarians of anyone who has owned an animal previously to verify the person is a responsible pet owner.
"We're not going to set these super-high standards that are out of the ordinary, but we are going to check up on the cats," he said.
People who adopt a cat that isn't spayed or neutered must sign a form promising to get the animal "fixed." If they don't, the cat will be repossessed, Sisler said.
"That's what led us to this problem to begin with — people not spaying and neutering their animals," Sisler said.
Call (937) 399-2917 to inquire about adopting a cat.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0367 or gcetnar@coxohio.com
