Attention Western New Yorkers...FREE CAT ADOPTIONS / $25 KITTEN ADOPTIONS THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

[Apennysaved]

The SPCA Serving Erie County: FREE CAT ADOPTIONS / $25 KITTEN ADOPTIONS THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 2

More than 100 Felines Surrendered to SPCA Serving Erie County in 28 Hours Lead to Unprecedented Adoption Fee Reduction

"Absolute chaos. It may be a cliche, but that's the best way to explain it here. The shelter has turned into absolute chaos."

These are the words of SPCA Veterinary Services Manager Debby Williams, describing the scene at the SPCA's 205 Ensminger Road, Tonawanda shelter leading to the extreme reduction or complete removal of feline adoption fees throughout this weekend.

Between opening admission hours Monday, July 27 and closing admission hours Wednesday, July 29, 28 hours in all, 102 cats and kittens were admitted to the SPCA shelter.

"The high number could be attiributed to a variety of reasons," Williams muses. "It's already a very busy time of year for cats and kittens, so at the beginning of the week, just about every single cat and kitten cage at all of our locations was already occupied. But more than 100 felines to start the week...it's now almost out of control. Every single cage...every single animal housing unit...every small transport crate...every one is occupied with a cat or with kittens. We are completely out of caging units and space at the SPCA shelter, at our Walden Galleria site, and at our satellite locations."

Add to this more than 500 available cats and kittens that cannot be found at any SPCA adoption location. This is the total number of cats and kittens being housed in volunteer foster homes. Some of these felines are too young to be put up for adoption, some are recovering from an injury or illness, and most are ready to go up for adoption but are awaiting an available adoption cage.

In an effort to find more cats more homes and to prevent the spread of any contagious illness, the SPCA has drastically reduced or completely waived adoption fees. Cats and kittens 21 weeks and older can be adopted free of charge (the regular adoption fee is $85 or, during special incentive months, $50); kittens five months and younger can be adopted for $25 (the regular adoption fee is $100).

Feline adoptions include the animal's spay or neuter surgery, first set of vaccinations (including rabies vaccination if the kitten is old enough), feline leukemia / FIV tests, microchip identification, thirty days free veterinary insurance, and more.

Gina Browning, SPCA director of public relations, says, "On a normal day, and on every day of our operation at least over the last several decades, adopting animals out for free has never been the better option. Today it is. There are simply too many risks to their health and livelihood in this kind of setting, and that is of utmost concern."

"The animals will not be simply given away to the first people who walk through the doors," Browning adds. "There is still an adoption procedure...an interview with an adoption counselor...who will do his or her best to ensure the desired animal isn't just going to any home, but to a loving home where he or she will be loved and properly treated."

Adoption hours at the SPCA's Tonawanda shelter through Saturday are:
Thursday, July 30: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday, July 31: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday, August 1: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

[Penelope06]

I wish I could help but 1) I live on the west coast and 2) I just took in a kitten and that makes number 5! I hope this event helps them out!

I can't believe they received over 100 cats and kittens in that short of time... Or rather I can, there were 9 in the litter that I took one from, and there were 3 adults with that litter. It's crazy!