September 24, 3:35 a.m.
Saving Grace Peter Adoption Center has temporarily suspended intake of healthy cats and kittens through the end of the month.
Stray cats or kittens who are injured or sick may still be brought to the shelter during business hours.
A release said cat owners who need to rehome their cats are encouraged to go to: www.savinggracepetadoptioncenter.org for information on safely and humanely rehoming their pet. Saving Grace is able to assist owners by providing them with supplies to help keep cats and kittens in their home while they search for a new home. Owners can also request to be put on a waitlist to bring cats into the shelter on a first come, first served basis beginning in October.
The release said healthy stray cats should be left in their outdoor homes as they most likely have multiple families that are caring for them. Newborn kittens should be left where they are found as more often than not their mother is nearby and will return for them soon.
Executive Director Megan Gram said it was a very difficult decision to make but in order to provide proper care for the cats in the shelter and save more lives, cat and kitten intake must temporarily close. Gram said there are currently over 150 cats and kittens in foster care and 88 cats in the shelter. That means there are no open cages available. Gram said Saving Grace has already taken in 140 more kittens than at this time last year.
The release said Saving Grace is part of a larger trend of animal shelters who are seeing higher than normal intake numbers while simultaneously experiencing staffing and volunteer shortages, primarily due to the pandemic. Animal shelters are feeling the effects of a lack of available spay/neuter services over the past 15 months.
Gram said Saving Grace is working towards a goal of being able to offer affordable, accessible spay/neuter services for pets to low income residents on an on-going basis. She said there is a need for funding to make the program possible. Those who want to help can make a donation or get more information at www.savinggracepetadoptioncenter.org.