UCAPS donation drive this weekend

“It’s puppy season and it’s hitting us hard.” — Terra Walker, UCAPS Board President

It’s puppy and kitten season, and the Union County Animal Protection Society will hold donation drives this weekend in hopes of receiving the community’s help in caring for the more than 400 animals living in the nonprofit’s properties.

UCAPS Board President Terra Walker said that with so many animals in their care, the need for items like dog and cat food, puppy pads and cleaning supplies is great.

“We are sitting on probably about 80 puppies right now — pregnant dogs come in (to UCAPS properties), puppies are dumped; we had a couple incidents where they were dumped outside the shelter gate,” Walker said. “It’s puppy season and it’s hitting us hard.”

UCAPS volunteers will set up outside of both entrances at Wal-Mart on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the donation drive. Shoppers can take a list of needed items from a volunteer as they enter and hand off any donations on their way out of the store, Walker said.

The nonprofit is also continuing to take steps to slow the population growth of stray cats and dogs in the community. A trap-neuter-release event — where stray cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, then released where they were found — is scheduled for July 20, but volunteers are needed, Walker said.

“We need volunteers to help us on those nights, that’s the biggest hurdle is finding people available to help set the traps, check the traps and bring them back. It’s a three hour commitment on those nights,” she said.

On July 21, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats is scheduled; male cats can be spayed for $65 and female cats neutered for $75, about half what the procedures usually cost, and rabies shots are also included. Those wishing to include their pets in the clinic need to register by calling 918230-4851.

Also upcoming is UCAPS’ second annual “Spay-ghetti dinner,” a general fundraiser that started last year, though it was first conceptualized prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Details about the dinner are forthcoming, Walker said.

This weekend’s donation drives will help to fill an immediate need, Walker said. Monetary donations are also welcome.

“Our expenses just continue to increase the more animals we’re sustaining, and dog food is not cheap,” Walker said.

For more information about UCAPS, the donation drive or how to get involved, visit facebook.com/ucapsadoptioncenter or ucapsshelter.org.