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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Seattle Animal Shelter celebrates ‘Adopt A Shelter Cat Month’ during June
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
6/1/2009 1:55:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Don Jordan (206)386-4286 (office)
(206)953-2529 (cell)
Kara Main-Hester (206)386-4293
Katherine Schubert-Knapp (206) 684-0909
Kathy Sugiyama (206) 684-0909
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Seattle Animal Shelter celebrates ‘Adopt A Shelter Cat Month’ during June
Responsible pet ownership can help reduce pet overpopulation
SEATTLE — The Seattle Animal Shelter today proclaimed June, “Adopt-a-Shelter Cat Month 2009.” The shelter is teeming with cats in need of homes. Visit the shelter today to preview available cats or speak with an adoption counselor who can help you find the perfect match. You may also preview animals currently available for adoption by visiting www.seattleanimalshelter.org.
Many cats and kittens available for adoption will also be showcased at a community foster cat adoptathon on Saturday, June 13, at Miller Community Center,
330 19th Ave. E.
“At our shelter, every month is adopt a pet month, but especially at this time of year because shelters all around the country are overwhelmed with litters of kittens in need of homes. And we always have older cats available as well. Now is the best time to adopt a cat. As long as we have a serious pet overpopulation problem, we will continue to make every effort to find suitable homes for these kittens and cats,” says shelter Director Don Jordan.
The key to solving the overpopulation problem is simple: pet owners need to act responsibly and spay or neuter their pets. Jordan recommends all pets be spayed or neutered, especially cats.
“I urge anyone who is unsure about how to deal with strays to visit their local animal shelter or humane society and learn the humane options available to reduce pet overpopulation and improve animals’ quality of life,” says Jordan. “Shelter cats make great companion pets, but they can’t take care of themselves. That’s where responsible ownership comes in. Many cats are allowed to roam even though it’s safest if they’re kept indoors. Research shows spayed and neutered cats are happier and make better pets.”
Adopting a cat from the Seattle Animal Shelter saves that animal from unnecessary euthanasia. A cat adoption package costs between $102 and $107 and includes:
· Initial vaccinations
· Deworming
· Feline Leukemia testing
· Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians
· Spay or neuter
· Microchip (About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip is injected under the cat’s skin, providing an identification number associated with that animal. Animal shelters can then “scan” a lost animal and retrieve its records from the microchip.)
· Seattle pet license (if applicable)
The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 - 15th Ave. W., approximately one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. The shelter is open seven days a week, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions, and from 9 a.m. for licensing. For more information, please call (206) 386- PETS (7387) or visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org.
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