The lives of 50 cats are at stake in the Española Valley Humane Society’s Second Chance Cat Adoption Fair this weekend.
The cats risk euthanasia due to severe overcrowding at the shelter.
Late warm weather and the problem of unaltered cats in the community have left the shelter more crowded than usual. The shelter’s population is at about 200 cats. The shelter is housing two or three cats in each of its 50 cages, and other felines are assigned to foster homes.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” program development coordinator Lisa Gipe said. “Keeping up with the cats and kittens has always been a challenge, but this year, we are just running out of resources, and in turn, the cats are running out of time.”
The shelter plans to host a weekend-long adoption festival in an attempt to avoid euthanizing the cats and to draw attention to the needs of cats in the county. The event is scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The shelter will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
“We’re trying to avoid (euthanasia),” community outreach coordinator Nina Chiotasso said. “If 50 cats are adopted, we would save 50 lives or possibly more than that.”
Adoptions will cost $30 for one cat and $50 for two or more during the event. Adoptions usually cost $60 each. The shelter will also offer music, roasted corn and hourly shelter tours.
Cats and kittens eight weeks and older will be available that weekend to go home with adopters immediately. All adopters will receive a cat carrier, cat food samples and a gift bag.
The Espanola Valley Humane Society is the only open-door animal shelter in Rio Arriba County. It provides low-cost spaying and neutering, vaccinations, education and adoption services. The shelter is funded primarily through private donations. The Society’s shelter is located at 108 Hamm Parkway in San Pedro. Call 753-8662.