Christmas arrives early this year: the BC SPCA Richmond Education & Adoption Centre offers a 50 per cent discount on all feline adoption fees, encouraging residents to take care of kittens and adult cats in need for a warm home.
The temporary reduction running from Nov. 26 till Dec. 9 is part of the promotional campaign Fall for Kittens.
Across the province, including Richmond, there has been a massive cat overpopulation problem, said Lorie Chortyk, general manager of community relations for the BC SPCA.
The breeding season starts in May, which is when we witness an influx of kittens brought in. At the end of September, the clowder of kittens admitted starts to decrease; however, this year, cats and kittens have still been coming in fast and furious through October and November.
When asked for the reason behind the pressing overpopulation issue, she referred to a lack of responsibility of pet owners.
A lot of people wont spay or neuter their cats, she said. Theyre getting the message when it comes to dogs, but with cats, its still a huge problem.
As a result, many kittens are abandoned, increasing the number of free-roaming cats out on the streets.
To solve the problem, the animals available for adoption at SPCA facilities have already been spayed and neutered.
Moreover, they have been vaccinated and provided with an identification tattoo and preventative treatment for internal and external parasites.
As an additional bonus, all kittens and adult cats are covered by six weeks pet insurance courtesy of Petsecure to ensure their health during the critical rehoming period.
Since SPCA Richmond wants to ensure animals match their families, the usual adoption criteria will apply.
New owners must be financially capable to care for their pet, and each member has to stand behind the expansion of the family.
All adoptable animals and information on SPCA Richmond facility can be found on www.spca.bc.ca.
