NEW ALBANY —
Thinking of adopting a cat this holiday season?
If so, there are cats of all sizes, colors, breeds and temperament at the New Albany-Floyd County Animal Shelter. There are so many cats that 12 are being given away as part of the “Twelve Strays of Christmas” campaign while the regular adoption fee is only $20 for a cat.
“We’re desperate. We need to place some of these cats,” said Theresa Stilger, animal care coordinator at the shelter. “We have some of the sweetest cats that we’ve ever had here. And we’ve had some for a year.”
The shelter lowered its cat adoption fee to $20 six months ago to try and thin out the population.
“We are trying to decrease the time cats have to stay here,” Stilger said.
Stilger said the closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge has hurt the adoption process. She said several Louisville residents used to come across the bridge and stop at the shelter, since it was so close to the exit ramp.
“It’s more difficult for people to get here,” she said. “It’s definitely created more of a strain.”
Animal Shelter Director David Hall said it was easier for some residents of Shively and Pleasure Ridge Park to come to the New Albany shelter, located at 215 W. Market St., instead of driving to the Louisville shelter along Newburg Road.
“We have no data to prove it, but our visits are off,” Hall said. “We are getting more visitors from our community which is good, but overall we are down. They usually pick up this time of year but not to the extent of last year.”
Stilger hopes the combination of the “Twelve Strays Program” and the holidays will lead to more adoptions before the end of the year. She said the shelter doesn’t have any problems adopting dogs.
“We do usually find more success this time of year,” she said. “But our cat over-crowding is a year-round problem. We have more cats this time of year than we have ever had. I believe our adoptions have fallen off due to the bridge closure, but our intake numbers have gone up.”
Stilger said the shelter does not euthanize cats as long as they are healthy.
“They have to pass an evaluation. But once they go up for adoption, they are here until they are adopted,” Hall said.
The shelter is one of nearly 3,500 from around the world hoping to place 1.5 million pets in homes this holiday season as part of the Iams Home 4 the Holidays 2011 pet adoption campaign.
The “Twelve Strays of Christmas” program at the shelter is currently accepting donations for adoption sponsorships. The sponsorships help waive the fees of the animals that go through the program.
Stilger also said if someone wants to adopt an animal as a Christmas gift, the shelter will board the animal, beginning next week, so it can be picked up Christmas Eve.
The shelter is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Regular adoption fees are $20 for adult cats, $60 for kittens and $80 for dogs and puppies. The fee includes spay or neuter, one round of preventative shots, worming, felv/FIV or heartworm tests, microchip, Frontline for fleas and a cat carrier.
“You can’t beat the price,” Hall said.
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Related Photos
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The New Albany-Floyd County Animal Shelter is currently offering 12 cats for free adoption as part of the 12 Strays of Christmas program. Adult cat adoption fees have also been lowered to $20. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
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The New Albany-Floyd County Animal Shelter is currently offering 12 cats for free adoption as part of the 12 Strays of Christmas program. Adult cat adoption fees have also been lowered to $20. Staff photo by Kevin McGloshen
Discussion
NA-FC shelter overrun by cats
Shelter: Bridge closure has hurt adoption process
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