For 1 / 4 of a century, the Mason County Kitten Rescue has been serving to native felines – each owned and feral – in addition to pet homeowners. What began as a ardour venture for Norma and Jack Webber out of their storage has grown into the main cat rescue in Mason County.
But they aren’t simply the main cat rescue within the space, they’re the one one devoted solely to felines. The Mason County Humane Society is the opposite pet adoption organization within the space, catering to each dogs and cats. Lana Gunaratne with Mason County Kitten Rescue believes the cost and assets wanted to begin a rescue are the explanations they’re nonetheless the one cat rescue within the county.
She says it’s additionally onerous to proceed operating the rescue, resulting from monies wanted but additionally manpower. “About 75% of our volunteers are retired,” she explains. “The director, Deedra Sigmon, for instance, is retired and tied to Kitten Rescue 24/7. She not only deals with animal emergencies and facility issues like power outages but also comes in to do basic housekeeping care for the cats and kittens when we are short volunteers.”
Mason County Kitten Rescue takes in and adopts roughly 600 cats a 12 months.
Cat Rescue in Mason County Helps Feral and Domestic Cats and Kittens
The Mason County Kitten Rescue gives adoption companies and far more to the residents – each feline and human – of Mason County. Their amenities embody a number of buildings with completely different functions on their property, together with a medical ward the place they will do vaccinations, worming and flea meds for incoming cats. Cats which are recovering from accidents or surgical procedures are additionally housed within the medical ward, permitting the Kitten Rescue to deliver cats home from the vet earlier than if they didn’t have such amenities.
They even have a nursery ward, the place moms with kittens are stored if there aren’t any fosters for them, in addition to a number of buildings that maintain adoptable cats ready for his or her without end home. These cats have massive constructions with hooked up catios to permit them access to recent air whereas remaining secure inside an enclosure. Finally, they’re a no-kill rescue, in order that they have a resident ward for cats that can stick with them indefinitely.
Adoption is a major focus for the Mason County Kitten Rescue: the extra cats adopted the extra they will save! Lana shares that adoptions have slowed just lately resulting from inflation and the rising cost related to proudly owning a pet. “Also, we noticed the younger generations do not seem to be adopting pets, likely due to busy jobs and families with two working parents making it difficult to keep and care for animals,” she provides.
In addition to adopting out cats, together with barn cats if you’re in want, they provide companies to assist decrease the inhabitants of cats in Mason County by their spay and neuter applications. Their Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program for feral cats consists of rentable traps, free spay or neuter through reimbursement after which month-to-month meals for the cat as soon as it’s launched again to your space/property. “We show them how to use the trap, and coordinate reimbursement for the spay and neuter from Northwest Spay and Neuter,” explains Lana. “The persons doing the trapping return the cats to the area, and we provide them dry food monthly to help feed them.”
They even have a spay and neuter program for home cats. Just fill out the appliance and Mason County Kitten Rescue will show you how to coordinate your cat’s spay or neuter. “We offer transportation services to the Northwest Spay and Neuter or we reimburse $50 if the owner presents us the receipt for the services,” explains Lana. Transportation choices are restricted. You can examine the Kitten Rescue Spay/Neuter web page for particulars.
Volunteering, Fostering, Adopting and Supporting Mason County Kitten Rescue
Lana encourages everybody who can to volunteer. “Deedre and the regular volunteers have a big heart, caring personality, and also take on the very hard work that comes with managing an organization like this,” she shares. “It’s a wonderful feeling and accomplishment to work alongside such amazing people to support the mission. Plus, we get to pet and cuddle cats and kittens!”
Four volunteers plus one member of the administration crew is at Mason County Kitten Rescue every day. Volunteers are all the time wanted. “We need consistent and committed volunteers to take a dedicated shift (or two or three!) weekly at the shelter,” shares Lana. “We need volunteers who prioritize the shift much like you would a work schedule. This is a volunteer-based shelter and cannot exist without consistent volunteers to take care of the animals.” Having a robust, reliable volunteer base permits them to herald extra cats and kitten and to deal with adoptions.
“We also have a need for a handyman/woman to take on some simple jobs around the shelter,” provides Lana.
Even for those who can’t undertake, foster or volunteer, you’ll be able to nonetheless help Mason County Kitten Rescue. They depend on grants, fundraisers and donations from people to proceed their work. You could make a legacy donation or donate by yourself behalf. They additionally take in-kind donations. You may also help them by attending their bi-annual storage gross sales and Christmas bazaars.
To be taught extra about all they do and alternatives to help, go to the Mason County Kitten Rescue web site. And after all, please bear in mind to spay and neuter your pets. “A lot of our maternity intakes are people’s pregnant pet cat and their kittens that they can’t take care of,” shares Lana. “We take them in and adopt out their kittens.”
