The Humane Society in Clark County, Ohio, adopted out 70 cats in two days earlier this week after the shelter waived its usual adoption fee.
More than half of the shelter’s cats have found new homes since Ed Sisler, the shelter director, announced Dec. 11 that the shelter would temporarily suspend its $45 to $65 adoption fee to reduce overcrowding.
Normally, about one cat is adopted each day, Sisler said, but 70 cats were adopted Monday and Tuesday. Another 22 had to be euthanized because of an infectious upper respiratory infection, but around 35 still needed homes as of Dec. 13.
“The community has responded so gracefully to this that I personally feel indebted to them because they saved these cats’ lives,” Sisler told the Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun.
Before the suspended fees, the shelter had housed 127 cats, which is 47 more than its capacity of 80. Rather than euthanize healthy, vaccinated cats, Sisler said he decided to give them away.
A veterinarian has checked, dewormed and vaccinated all the cats for feline leukemia, according to the shelter, and some also have received rabies vaccines.
The free cat offer lasts until 5 p.m., Dec. 18. For more information, call the Humane Society Serving Clark County at (937) 399-2917 or visit its website.