9/23/10

A Kitten, “Epidemic” with No End in Sight! 

Rancho Santa Fe, CA – “It’s kind of an epidemic and, unfortunately, we don’t see an end in sight!” That’s how one care provider Helen Woodward Animal Center (HWAC) described the number of kittens currently available for adoption, in foster care waiting for space in the Center’s, “Kittery,” and the number of calls still coming in from families that have litters of kittens that they can’t keep.  

“Kitten season started later than usual and that gave us a false impression of the onslaught of what was on the way,” says HWAC spokesman John Van Zante. “Now we’re facing near-epidemic conditions.” 

Van Zante explains that there are currently 40 to 50 kittens at the Center. “Our Kittery can hold about 30 kittens at a time. We have 10 to 20 more that will become available for adoption as soon as there’s room for them in the viewing area.”     

Volunteers in HWAC’s Foster program are also providing in-home care for another 30 to 40 kittens. “Some of these babies are old enough to be adopted as soon as we have space for them. Others are still too young, but they will be available within the next few weeks. As we said, there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight.”  

HWAC has two programs underway to help combat the kitten epidemic.  

#1: The, “Velcro Kitten” program allows families that adopt one kitten at the standard adoption fee to take home the, “attached” kitten with no adoption fee.  

#2: Through HWAC’s, “Spay – Don’t Litter” program, if the Center is able to accept a litter it provides for the, “Mommy” cat to be spayed at no cost. 

All dogs and cats, puppies and kittens at Helen Woodward Animal Center are spayed or neutered, have up-to-date vaccines, and have passed health and temperament testing before going, “home” with their new families.  

HWAC’s Adoption kennels are open everyday from 11 AM to 6 PM

at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe. For more information call 858-756-4117.