The Regional Animal Services of King County announced it will not be accepting adult cats temporarily beginning Dec. 6 from owners trying to place their cats in the Kent shelter.
According to a release from animal services, because of the increase threat of flooding during the storm season, the shelter will not be accepting adults cats and it will waive adoption fees on currently available adult cats at the county’s animal shelter in Kent. The county hopes to keep the shelter population low in advance of a possible flood evacuation.
“This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to adopt a pet as a new member of their family” Ken Nakatsu said, manager of animal services. “We have many adoptable cats in our shelters and in foster care waiting for someone to take them home. Now it’s more affordable than ever to find your new best friend.”
Starting Monday residents can bring home a new cat for just the cost of the license. Adopted pets come spayed or neutered and with all vaccinations, including the rabies vaccine, at no additional cost.
Foster volunteers needed
Cats placed in foster care reside in people’s homes and do not use space in the animal shelter. Foster volunteers take care of cats from the shelter on a temporary basis until a permanent home can be found. After completing an application and attending a 90-minute training, animal services provides new foster families with free cat food, cat litter, a litter box and pet medical care.
“It is heartbreaking to turn cats away from our shelter during flood season”, said Sarah Luthens, manager of volunteer programs. “When people foster cats, it allows RASKC to care for pets we would otherwise have to turn away, and that still counts as one less cat we would have to evacuate during a flood emergency.”
Additional foster homes are also needed for kittens and cats recovering from surgery or other ailments, or those pets that need a break from the shelter as they wait for homes.
Upcoming foster orientations will take place Thursday, Dec. 16 and Wednesday, Dec. 22.
Both sessions begin at 5:30 p.m. in Kent. Visit the animal services website for more details.
Animal services has taken extensive measures to ensure the safety of shelter animals in the event of a Green River flood this winter. An alternate location has been established in case animals need to be quickly transferred from the Kent Facility; a surplus Metro bus is parked at the Kent Facility to ensure a safe and timely evacuation; and a protective perimeter wall has been constructed around the shelter to ensure that as flood waters recede, animal services can return to the Kent Facility as quickly as possible and provide services to residents.
Residents interested in adopting or fostering an adult cat or adopting any other pet from Regional Animal Services of King County should visit the animal services website for more details or call the volunteer information line at 206-296-3946 for more information.
