Free cat shelter pickup for colony caretakers Jan. 27, 29
In Sussex County, 50 cat shelters will be donated to cat colony caretakers who desperately need protection for their colonies.
Cat colony caretakers may pick up free cat houses from 3 to 5:50 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27, or 7 to 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 29, at the Delaware Humane Association Rehoboth Adoption Center in the Midway Shopping Center at 18675 Coastal Highway.
"We recognize that Good Samaritans throughout Delaware are caring for free-roaming cats - who have either been abandoned or born as orphans. These individuals use their own time and money to feed them, and humanely trap them to be rabies vaccinated and altered. They are dedicated and compassionate citizens who are out in all kinds of weather to ensure the safety and health of the cats they care for,” said Jane Pierantozzi, Faithful Friends executive director and founder.
All Delaware shelters now provide low-cost spay and neuter for cats. Many animal shelters also provide low-cost spay and neuter for community cats through trap-neuter-release programs, as well as free pet food banks to help pet owners and colony caretakers.
For more information on Delaware Humane’s’ low-cost spay/neuter and trap-neuter-release programs, go to delawarehumane.org.
Delaware has made great strides in the last 20 years in advancing protection for abandoned, orphaned and abused cats and dogs. However, cat abandonment and overpopulation continue to overwhelm the state because cats have been left out of the animal welfare safety net.
In 2000, Delaware was euthanizing over 25,000 animals a year in publicly funded shelters, and about 15,000 of those animals were cats. Today, it's understood that feral or semi-social cats do not belong in shelters unless they are recovering from injury or illness. These cats should remain in the community where they are being cared for and fed by caring neighbors.
