Cat-rescue group announces ‘adopt-a-thon’ - Jan. 23, 2013
Vern Faulkner
St. Stephen
Somewhere in Charlotte County, there are 10 or so families who are perfect parents for a kitten – or so Anne Johnston hopes.
On Saturday, the local chamber CARMA (Cat Rescue Maritimes) will host an “adopt-a-thon” at the Sears outlet on Route 170.
CARMA’s Anne Johnston explains that despite CARMA’s tendency to care for wild or feral cats, they do on occasion, deal with perfectly adoptable, domesticated cats from time to time - and their offspring.
“Some of the cats we have are not wild – in this case, for example, the cats are mostly inside, they’re young, they’re kittens.”
Johnston estimated about 10 kittens of all hues, and all about five or six months old and spayed or neutered, will be available for adoption by donation. The felines are all spayed and neutered.
“We cannot sell cats ... but we do expect a donation, which helps to pay for the costs of spaying and neutering,” she said.
Tax receipts will be issued for donations made.
Although it might seem as if the group – which is driven by about 30 volunteers, including part-time caregivers and foster care providers – is stepping on SPCA’s toes, that’s hardly the case, Johnston said.
“The goal for all of us is to help the cats and to not have homeless cats. The more we can find homes for, they don’t have to,” said Johnston.
Both agencies have waiting lists for new intakes due to the numbers of stray, abandoned and feral cats in the county, she said.
“We have a waiting list for spays and neuters,” she added.
Primarily, CARMA’s main goal is to trap and neuter wild or feral cats, then return them to their environment. It’s the best way to avoid the blossom of populations that erupt when unsprayed cats are left in the wild.
Saturday’s event will run from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. It’s the first adoptathon CARMA has held in the area. For more, see the group’s Facebook page.
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