Humane Society sees benefits of program regulating intake of cats
In the past, animal shelters would “pack the rafters” with cats, especially during the summer breeding season. But, you won’t find that at the Edmonton Humane Society.
In Cat Ward Three, felines leisurely wander between two connected cages, where they once had one cage — litter on one side, food on the other. Soft music plays in the background for them.
The improvements are part of the integration of Capacity for Care, a program designed to improve quality of life for shelter cats while decreasing euthanasia and increasing adoption rates. The Edmonton Humane Society was one of two pilot sites chosen by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies to start integrating the program last year.
“Now that we’re managing intakes, there’s less ebbs and flows,” said Corey Mowles, director of operations.
He said, however, not all people have adjusted to the appointments now required to bring a cat or kittens into the shelter.
We will ask that you take care of the kittens, but we’ll provide you with the tools necessary — litter, litter bags, beds, litter boxes, food.
Because the Humane Society takes in cats from several sources — including the public, the City of Edmonton’s animal intake centre and partner organizations — appointments help them stabilize the number of cats that come in instead of stopping intake entirely.
“As recent as last year we would close the doors to all incoming cats,” he said.
Last August, the Edmonton Humane Society temporarily stopped taking in healthy stray and owner surrendered cats and kittens. The facility had more than double the estimated current capacity of 200 healthy adult cats.
Another initiative, the Kitten Co-op, is designed to eliminate the financial barrier of taking care of young kittens at home instead of bringing them to the shelter.
“We will ask that you take care of the kittens,” Mowles said, “but we’ll provide you with the tools necessary — litter, litter bags, beds, litter boxes, food.”
This month, all cats six months or older are available to adopt by donation instead of the regular adoption fee. The donations go directly back into the society to help care for other shelter animals.