[StBernard] ST. BERNARD PARISH ANIMAL SERVICES WAIVES CAT ADOPTIONS FEES DURING ADOPT-A-SHELTER-CAT MONTH FOR JUNE THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST

[Westley Annis]

ST. BERNARD PARISH ANIMAL SERVICES WAIVES CAT ADOPTIONS FEES DURING
ADOPT-A-SHELTER-CAT MONTH THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST

Research Shows Fee-Waived Adoptions Can Be a Winning Solution 

for Shelters, Adopters and Cats Alike

 

In St. Bernard Parish alone, nearly 850 estimated cats enter the shelter
each year.  To celebrate Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month this June, SBPAS  in
collaboration with the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to
AnimalsR ("ASPCA") and the makers of Fresh StepR litter ("Fresh Step"), is
participating in a fee-waived adoption program to help find loving homes for
cats.   

 

ASPCA research recently published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare
Science found that waiving fees for adult cats boosts adoptions without
diminishing the value adopters place on their cats. Plus, surprisingly,
fee-waived adoptions may actually decrease shelter costs by reducing the
average length of stay for adult cats, and also could increase donations due
to an increase in adopters.  

 

"On average, it costs the SBPAS $5 a day to care for a cat," says Beth
Brewster, shelter director "Often times, adoption fees don't even offset
those costs. By offering fee-waived adoptions for adult cats, the shelter
benefits from decreasing the workload, and new cat owners have extra money
to spend on their cat.  And, ultimately, the cat has a loving home.  It's a
win-win for all."

 

Purrfect Way to Help

St. Bernard Parish Animal Services will host a fee-waived cat adoption for
the months of June, July and August.  The free adoptions will continue
through August 31st, 2011 for cats one year and older. All other adoption
policies and thorough match-making procedures will remain in effect. 

 

If there isn't room at home for a fabulous feline, there is another way to
help. From June 1 through July 31, 2011, simply "Like" Fresh Step's Facebook
Page at www.facebook.com/freshstep. With that simple action, the makers of
Fresh Step litter will donate $1 (up to $100,000) to the ASPCA to help
expand programs like this and get more cats adopted.  

 

# # #