No place to go Bringing the story home - Animal Humane Society

petcetera
Companion cats and feral cats
Programs focused on feral cats are becoming more prevalent across the country. We at the Animal
Humane Society have received inquiries about how our organization responds to feral cats.
At AHS our focus is on companion animals—placing healthy companion cats in new homes. This past
year, more than 21,000 cats came through our five facilities. Only 500 of these cats were feral.
Cats that come to us are either strays or owner surrendered or feral. Strays are cats that have
lived with individuals and families but have become lost and separated from their owners. Our
objective is to reunite them with their owners or find loving homes for them.
Feral cats are different—they have lived in the wild with no shelter and have not known human care
or contact. They are fearful, unsocialized and incapable of living in a home environment.
When a cat comes through our doors at the Animal Humane Society they are evaluated to determine
if they are an owned, stray cat or a feral cat. Keeping feral cats in captivity causes immense
suffering that will not subside with time—even with care, food and shelter. They are not placeable
as pets or prospects for adoption. In our experience, to kennel a feral cat any longer than absolutely
necessary is cruel.
According to Minnesota’s animal welfare statutes, when there is a reasonable determination by a veterinarian
that a feral cat is suffering and is beyond cure through reasonable care and rehabilitation,
then an animal may be relieved of its suffering by humanely euthanizing it. In these cases, Animal
Humane Society follows the recommendation of its veterinarians and makes that humane choice.
Our focus remains on companion animals. Each year, nearly 13,000 animals receive sterilization
surgeries at our facilities prior to adoption. With the public’s help we are able to find homes for
thousands of cats each year, but the reality is there are still not enough homes for the healthy
and socialized cats that are in our care.
Our next effort is to find a way to offer affordable spay and neuter services to the public so that
they can have their cats sterilized and not contribute to the overpopulation problem. Our desired
outcome is fewer cats entering animal welfare organizations and greater proportion of surrendered
cats being placed.
While we share concerns for the feral cats in the community our organization must look at our core
programs and where we can have the greatest impact on the most animals in the community. Longterm,
we envision programming that assists feral cats. Presently, finding homes for companion animals
and placement of all healthy and treatable animals remains our number one priority.
Reading is fun, reading to animals is even better
Your child is sure to turn into a bookworm in February! Join us on February 7 and 21 for the Animal
Ambassadors Reading Fun (AARF) program. AARF invites children to come and read to a registered
therapy animal at AHS. Animals are the perfect reading partner—they’re fun to be around and they
provide a non-judgmental
environment for kids to improve
their reading skills.
Kids who read will receive a
free book while supplies last.
No registration is necessary.
For more information please
visit www.animalhumanesoc
iety.org/animalambassadors
or call (763) 489-2220.
4 • ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY MAGAZINE WINTER 2009/10 • www.animalhumanesociety.org
Grant wishes for animals this
holiday season
Scratching posts and ping pong balls may not
have made your holiday shopping list this year,
but for animals awaiting a home at AHS,
they’re on their list.
Wish trees are up at each of our five facilities
and on them you’ll find opportunities to purchase
a Snow Angels animal sponsorship (see
page 9), or items from cat toys to dog leashes.
Simply grab an ornament off the tree, buy the
requested item (many can be purchased right
at AHS)and drop it back at the facility nearest
you. Snow Angels are available in $25, $50
and $100 increments and make great last
minute gifts for the animal lover (or pet!)
in your family.
Presents for the pets in your life
Where would we be without the animals in
our lives? The bond we have with them makes
families whole and their antics
bring countless hours
of laughter to our lives.
Consider the gifts you’ll
give your pets this holiday
season and turn to
AHS to make those
purchases. Each of
our facilities carries
merchandise for
sale from hamster
wheels
and treats to
dog food and
Kongs. Stop by
and do a little holiday
shopping for your
pet. Stores are open during
regular Adoption Center
hours. Proceeds from the sale of store items
support the animals in our care.