Today I am thankful for no-kill shelters and sanctuaries.
These facilities are the true shelter in all the meanings of the word. Today I am using the example of Cat Angels Pet Adoptions in Cary, NC. I volunteer there as much as I can. Animals lucky enough to find their way to a no-kill shelter will never want for anything, and will live their natural lives in the shelter. Some of these kitties are elderly, but still receive the love and respect they deserve, even if they will never find a home of their own.
Do you ever wonder how they can stay in business and help more cats in the process? Just a few short weeks ago Cat Angels had their annual silent auction, which raises the most money for them throughout the year. I was proud to be there helping in any way I could. It’s all for the kitties.
All year round, volunteers collect items to auction, solicit donations from local businesses, and put together gift baskets to sell at the auction. Donations range from all things kitty to spa treatments and special offers from local businesses. Many of our benefactors purchase the sponsor of kitties for a whole year.
This year we even had a local celebrity (Willie Hodge) taking pictures with attendees to raise more for the kitties. Here I am posing with him, doesn’t he look fabulous?
But back to the shelter. This is one place where you can see kitties in person, not behind bars. You can interact with them and have your new kitty pick you. It really does happen that way. You can see how they get along with other kitties and get first-hand details of any kitty from our volunteers who spend our time with them.
This is Captain James T. Kirk and Spock. They came in without any other siblings or mama, and have come to love each other like brothers. The cage was only temporary while they were in quarantine for 2 weeks (per usual), then while they healed from their neuter surgeries. Now they are living large in the Yellow Room with the rest of the kittens waiting to find the right human to adopt.
Two of my kitties came from this shelter. Both had been deemed never adoptable because they were so scared of people. They both languished in the shelter for years, until they pulled my heartstrings just the right amount. Today, they are living the life of ease together in my home.
Adopting from a no-kill shelter also saves more than just the one kitty. It allows the shelter to bring more kitties into their program. That means less kitties at the kill-shelters just waiting to be ‘put to sleep’. Check out your local no-kill shelter today and see how you can help! If they are anything like Cat Angels and their founder Deborah Fox, you know you will be certain this kitty is right for you. Cat Angels will also take back any of their kitties, no questions asked. Most no-kill shelters are like this. It is about the life and well-being of the animals. Most local no-kill shelters will not adopt out of the area, for good reasons of their own that we have no right to question. If Cat Angels cannot help you find you right family member, they will be happy to send you to other facilities where kitties are more in danger. Imagine Home is primarily (for now) a transport group, although our bigger purpose is to help in achieving the no-kill nation we all desire. While we will never be able to transport one of Deborah’s cats (and she does consider each one hers) I am eternally grateful for her and others like her who live for these precious animals.
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