Animal Shelter Pilots Fee Waived Cat Adoption Program
This kitten is seen exploring the new enclosure built to house them at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter
Oskaloosa, IA, January 17, 2012- Feline Fever has swept across the Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter and they are turning to the public for help. For one month, the animal shelter will be piloting a program in which they will waive the adoption fee for any cat over one year old as a means of promoting adoption awareness and thinning out the current population of over 60 cats that are currently at the shelter awaiting adoption.
The animal shelter is following in the footsteps of several other animal shelters across the country that have permanently waived adoption fees on all adult cats and have seen spectacular results. “The Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee piloted this program in 1998 with the hopes of finding homes for all adoptable cats that come through their doors. Currently, they are at a 100% adoption rate with cats only staying at the shelter for an average of 4.5 days before being adopted” says Lindsey Sime, Executive Director of the SMAS. “Based on the success of our cat adoption promotion last fall, we think this is an attainable goal.”
If this month-long pilot program is successful, the SMAS has plans to permanently waive the adoption fee on all adult cats. “Not only are these kind of programs great for finding homes for cats, but they are also a great way to bring awareness to the cat overpopulation problem within the community.” says Sime. “We are hoping that by waiving adoption fees on adult cats, we can motivate people to come to the shelter first to find a cat as opposed to responding to “free to good home” ads.” Sime also adds that many don’t think about the actual cost of getting a free kitten from a farm or a free cat from an ad. “These cats likely haven’t been vaccinated, dewormed, or spayed or neutered and the fees for these services add up quickly. By adopting from the shelter you can be assured that you are adopting a cat that is current on vaccinations, parasite free, and spayed or neutered.”
The Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter will be waiving adoption fees on all adult cats over 1 year old until February 20th. Potential adopters can visit http://smas.mahaska.net for a list of all available cats and to access an online adoption application. Those with questions can call the shelter at (641) 673-3991 or email the shelter at smasadoption@mahaska.org
