Kirkland cat shelter looking for a few good homes
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KIRKLAND -- A big increase in people giving up their cats is one of several problems plaguing animal rescuers in Kirkland.
The shelter is trying to find families for more than 250 felines.
"Our rooms are full; our cages are full," said Marilyn Hendrickson.
Kirkland's Meow Cat Rescue has run out of room, crawling with so many cats and kittens it can't accept any more surrenders.
"We're at our knees right now and we can't do anything," Hendrickson said.
Adoptions are down, donations are down but birth rates are not. It's an unbalanced equation that's causing problems, and it's not just an influx of kittens cramping these quarters.
"The return rate is very high," said Annie Baskett, the shelter's assistant manager.
For example, Jewel is 3 years old and its owners returned her after having a baby.
"Our waiting list for returns is out to the end of October," Hendrickson said.
And by helping hoarders unload the homes, that put the rescue over the edge.
One group of cats at the shelter were surrendered to Meow from a woman who had too many animals, many kittens -- with none of them fixed -- and having babies.
That's a lot of felines to feed.
"When times are better, these shelves are full of food, this shelf is empty and this shelf is empty," Hendrickson pointed out.
Volunteers have been paying out of their own pockets to fill the pantry. Meow Cat Rescue has asked the Problem Solvers to spread the word that it needs wet food, families willing to adopt and foster.
"We have about 150 kittens in foster care everyone of us has a house full of kittens," Hendrickson said.
And until these cages empty out, the new kittens can't come in and have a chance at finding a new family.
You can find more information at MeowCatRescue.org
The shelter is trying to find families for more than 250 felines.
"Our rooms are full; our cages are full," said Marilyn Hendrickson.
Kirkland's Meow Cat Rescue has run out of room, crawling with so many cats and kittens it can't accept any more surrenders.
"We're at our knees right now and we can't do anything," Hendrickson said.
Adoptions are down, donations are down but birth rates are not. It's an unbalanced equation that's causing problems, and it's not just an influx of kittens cramping these quarters.
"The return rate is very high," said Annie Baskett, the shelter's assistant manager.
For example, Jewel is 3 years old and its owners returned her after having a baby.
"Our waiting list for returns is out to the end of October," Hendrickson said.
And by helping hoarders unload the homes, that put the rescue over the edge.
One group of cats at the shelter were surrendered to Meow from a woman who had too many animals, many kittens -- with none of them fixed -- and having babies.
That's a lot of felines to feed.
"When times are better, these shelves are full of food, this shelf is empty and this shelf is empty," Hendrickson pointed out.
Volunteers have been paying out of their own pockets to fill the pantry. Meow Cat Rescue has asked the Problem Solvers to spread the word that it needs wet food, families willing to adopt and foster.
"We have about 150 kittens in foster care everyone of us has a house full of kittens," Hendrickson said.
And until these cages empty out, the new kittens can't come in and have a chance at finding a new family.
You can find more information at MeowCatRescue.org
