MOUNT VERNON — As have other organizations, the Knox County Humane Society has been hit hard by the unsteady economy. So many cats have been abandoned by owners who move, lose their home or simply just can’t afford to take care of them, but the sad part is that the cats have not been adopted.
This lack of adoption has caused an increase in the cat population at the shelter.
“We are here to help the community, but we need the community to help us,” said Janice Clayton, volunteer manager at the shelter.
Funds are running low, she said, and the need for volunteers and donations is great. There are many ways to help if one cannot volunteer, she said; monetary, food and supply donations are very much needed to help the shelter function.
Clayton said shelter staff members understand that a lot of people have fallen on hard times because of the unstable economy. The shelter is working with Interchurch Social Services to help those struggling families, not only in getting food for their family, but also for their pets. The Pet Food Pantry is a way in which low-income families can pick up a voucher through Interchurch, bring it to the shelter and get free cat or dog food for their pet, explained Clayton.
“Our big problem right now is that no one is coming in to adopt. I don’t know whether it is the economy; I think it may very well be that,” she said. “People are moving and abandoning their animals, and people are calling all the time, ‘my neighbors moved and left their animal and there is no one here to take care of them.’
“We have about the same amount of cats as we did last year, but people are just not adopting,” said Clayton. “We have too many cats in the shelter.”
There are, she said, a few kind people who keep the abandoned animals and see to their welfare.
“We couldn’t function without our volunteers,” said Clayton. “They are a big help to us.”
As soon as the shelter opens, it is swarmed with phone calls from people trying to get rid of unwanted cats, said volunteer Marlene McKay. McKay has worked for the humane society for 10 years, and her concern is with all the abandoned cats that get dropped off or left on the front steps of the shelter.
“I hope people realize that there are cats who need homes,” said Marianne McBride.
McBride and her son, Nathan, volunteer each Tuesday evening at the shelter, helping clean and take care of the cats. McBride said it started as a school project for her son, but when the project was finished, they wanted to continue volunteering at the shelter.
Starting Tuesday, Nov. 18, through Nov. 29, the Knox County Humane Society will have an “overstock sale” of cats.
Any cat of the Lonely Hearts Club is free, and for anyone who purchased a cat within the last two months, if he or she wants another cat, it is free. Other cats and kittens can be purchased for a nominal fee. All rules still apply when purchasing a cat — the purchaser has to be approved and landlord approved in order to complete the purchase.
All cats up for adoption have been spayed or neutered, Feline Leukemia tested, warmed, treated for fleas and vaccinated. As soon as the cats come into the facility, they are put in isolation for a period of time before they are allowed out on the floor with other cats. During that time, Clayton said, measures are taken to ensure that the cat does not have any disease or infection.
According to Clayton, there are no illnesses in the shelter other than simple sneezes or eye infections.
“We try to keep things very clean — washing your hands, using antibacterial soaps and washes, hand sanitizer, and good sanitation all over,” she said.
Clayton does advise against purchasing an animal for a family member or friend.
“The person receiving the gift may not connect with the animal,” she explained, “and there is that possiblity of the cat being brought back to the shelter.”
Instead, Clayton recommends purchasing a gift certificate.
“I think it is a good idea to go that route,” she said. “That way a person can come in and pick out which cat they want.”
Every Wednesday, the society offers spay and neuter clinics for dogs and cats. Although the list for dogs is full until the end of the year, cats are still being scheduled for a fee. For out-of-county cats, there is an additional cost.
“It is so important for pet owners to be responsible and spay and neuter their animals,” said Clayton, adding that, especially for cats, the surgery can be beneficial to the health of the animal.
The humane society is opened Tuesday through Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. The shelter is closed Sunday and Monday.
