MOUNT VERNON — Heather and Jeff Delawder of Cardington, and their sons Griffin, 5, and Parker, 2, drove to Mount Vernon on Saturday after they learned the Knox County Humane Society was hosting an open house. They were in search of a kitten to adopt, and learned about the KCHS event on the Internet.
The Delawders said they were impressed by the number of cats to choose from, and by the shelter itself, a no-kill shelter that euthanizes felines only when absolutely necessary.
Heather said she visited their local shelter — which is not no-kill — but only four cats were available there, and she didn’t care for the shelter.
“There wasn’t much of a selection. It was smelly, and I got a weird vibe from the place,” she said.
The family spotted a long-haired kitten named Lamb Chop; they looked around a while longer, then decided to take Lamb Chop home to Cardington.
On Saturday, the number of cats at KCHS was 124, a very low number, said volunteer Jennifer Gibson.
“I’ve been here since September 2006 and 124 is the lowest we’ve ever had,” she said. “Last June, we had over 300. But around April is ‘kitten season,’ and every year the population here at the shelter grows until it peaks in the summer at about 300.
“That’s the reason we have our spay-neuter clinics,” Gibson said, “to help reduce and control the cat population. People don’t take responsibility for spaying and neutering their pets, and they end up here in the shelter. A mother cat can have kittens every eight weeks; the gestation period is 63 days. If people want to do a good deed, pick up the neighborhood stray, bring it in for spaying or neutering ... it’s only $25 for male cats, $35 for females.”
Lamb Chop arrived at the shelter recently, spent the required time in isolation, was moved to the main, open shelter on Saturday and, thanks to the Delawders, found a new home within one day of being made available for adoption.
Other cats at the shelter haven’t been so lucky. They are members of the Lonely Hearts Club; the only requirement for membership is having been in residence at the shelter for six months or more. During Valentine’s Day week, KCHS offered Lonely Hearts members for adoption at a reduced price, and several found new homes.
Four KCHS cats went to a rescue organization in Cincinnati this week, said Gibson, adding that Cincinnati doesn’t have many strays, due to its longtime spay-neuter program in which pet owners take part.
Parker and Griffin Delawder said they were pleased Lamb Chop would be living with their family. Parker’s affectionate nickname is Pork Chop, explained his father; Parker couldn’t stop smiling at the coincidence.
