by Elisa Black-Taylor
(USA)
Cecilia
There's a no-kill shelter problem I've just been made aware of and I'd like to share it with the readers here.
I'm a big advocate of no-kill shelters. Mainly because they're willing to give a cat time to be adopted out without the threat of euthanasia for lack of room. Most no-kill shelters only euthanize a cat if it becomes seriously ill and can't recover.
The shelter I send my cats to for them to go up for adoption, the Greenville County Humane Society, has a problem with a few of their cats that I'd like to make the readers here aware of. This has occurred on two occasions recently.
Located in the foothills of Greenville, SC, this shelter is home for unwanted adoptable cats until someone comes in to adopt the cat. But what if no one adopts?
There's a seven month old kitten named Cecilia who recently went onto the death row list where I rescue. I honestly don't believe this kitten will be put to sleep. Someone will feel remorse for Cecilia, who went on the adoption floor on October 22, 2011. After all, Cecilia is a kitten and kittens are desirable. Right? Apparently not!
Then there's Jess, who is a two year old girl who's also on the death row list. She's been on the adoption floor even longer than Cecilia. September 23, 2011. That's a very long time for a cat to have to live in a cage.
The Greenville County Humane Society is doing everything right. They're no-kill. They advertise their cats on different websites. They have adoption events. Yet somehow these two cats have slipped through the cracks.
I thought this might be an isolated incident until I got to checking around. There are several no-kill shelters around the country who have "long timer's albums," meaning the cat has been there, well, a long time. In some cases a few years!
I imagine this problem isn't just a no-kill shelter problem. Perhaps there are county animal shelters with enough space to keep a cat indefinitely.
I think this is all so sad. What can be done other than what's already being done to correct this situation? Does anyone out there reading this article have any ideas?
I feel sure someone will either adopt or rescue Cecilia and Jess before their time runs out. If not, my daughter has already made it clear to me she wants to foster Cecilia. That would buy her some more time.
Unfortunately, there are many more cases identical to theirs taking place in shelters everywhere. What can be done when advertising and adoption events don't bring in someone who will love these poor cats enough to take them home?
I'm at a loss on this one, dear readers. My hope is to bring the problem to the attention of the readers here in hopes someone will have an answer.
Elisa
NOTE: Photos by Andrea Sams, Rescue Coordinator Greenville County Pet Rescue
