FREDERICTON - The Fredericton SPCA is bursting at the seams with cats and officials say they are struggling to feed, house and look after them all.
The SPCA, which usually has upwards of 130 cats this time of year, has seen that number jump to 191 so far this summer.
It has run out of space, is getting short on food and has had to beg volunteers and employees to work extra shifts.
"We are on pace to see our numbers explode into well over 250 animals and we do not have the capacity, the volunteers, the staff, or the resources to adequately house and care for that number of animals," said Stephanie Walsh, executive director.
"If you went into our lobby right now there are cats just about everywhere and if we don't start to move them out through adoption, at some point we are not going to be able to take animals in need."
Traditionally, the Fredericton SPCA sees adoptions slow in the summer months and the number of animals coming into the facility spike.
Walsh said her fear is that if history repeats itself this year, the facility will have to turn away stray cats and euthanize others.
With a total of 208 animals, the facility has already surpassed its high from last October.
"If we follow last year's trend I am not sure where we are going to stand," said Walsh.
"We have made a commitment to not euthanize healthy animals, but we need our community to really support us in this."
Fredericton SPCA says its struggling to care for nearly 200 cats
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Published on
July 9, 2009
- Published on January 3, 2010
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The Canadian Press ~ The News
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