First and Foremost, They Must be 'Fixed'

Walking through our customer service department today I heard a woman joking with one of our agents. While she appreciated our upcoming "FREE Cats for Dads on Father's Day" promotion, she had just taken in a cat from someone in her building who recently moved and therefore did not need another one. She casually joked that she thought the cat was pregnant. It was definitely in heat and had "gotten out" a couple of times, so she was pretty sure. Our customer service representative did exactly what he should have done; he educated her on the importance of getting a cat sterilized, explained the enormous cat overpopulation crisis in our community and urged her to check out our newest program, CatS.N.I.P. I could not help but be saddened at the nonchalant nature by which she described this cat's situation. Sadly, this circumstance is replicated all too often in every part of our community. For the sake of the cats, we are working hard to educate the community, but as with most everything, one feels it can never happen fast enough.

All cats, no matter a family's situation, first and foremost must be sterilized. We must cut down on the number of kittens being born. It is also important to provide quality veterinary care. It is a misconception that cats need to see a vet less often than a dog and sadly, that is exactly what is happening. Cats have many preventive needs and it is just as important for them to have routine check ups.

If your cat has not been spayed or neutered -- or if he or she is due for an annual exam -- put that ton your 'to do' list to schedule right away.

If you are in a position where you need financial assistance to spay or neuter your cat, please check out our newest program for cat owners called CatS.N.I.P. For a $15 fee, your cat will receive the spay or neuter surgery, a rabies vaccination, feline distemper vaccination and a cat license!

It's all about the cats!

Jan

It's All About The Cats!

For as long as I can remember, the reference to the 9 lives of a cat has lived on, ingrained in our culture. Children's cartoons include cats that go through lives like a deck of cards, artists reference it, Wikipedia discusses it and it's even a best selling cat food. It's simply a staple when talking about cats. But maybe it shouldn't be. The misconception is that they can take care of themselves, survive anything and will always come out on top, landing right on their feet. In real life, cats are dying every day in animal shelters across the country, unable to save their own lives or simply move on to their next. The euthanasia rate for cats is heartbreaking and it will take community participation to change the sad fate for so many of these beautiful and unique animals.

June is Adopt-A-Cat month, a time for us to raise awareness about how each of us can help raise the level of care for cats in our community. You can start by encouraging friends and family to adopt from the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region or their local rescue or shelter. More than four million cats enter shelters annually; one out of four gets a home.

If you already have a cat, "Take The Pledge," committing to responsible cat guardianship on our website www.hsppr.org. It's our goal to get 1000 signatures. Ask your friends to sign up!

It's all about the cats!
Jan