• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Rock County Humane Society plans cat adopt-a-thon

Photo

Photo by Kyle Bursaw

Volunteer Linda Miller plays with cats Sassy (top) and Piccolo. Miller spends every Monday from 1-3 spending time with the Cats at the Rock County Humane Society.

JANESVILLE — What’s the purrrfect time to adopt a cat from the Rock County Humane Society?

How about when cats are available for half the normal price and cream puffs from Bob Hiller’s Rollin Pin Bakery sweeten the deal?

That’s the plan for this weekend’s Cream Puffs & Cats event at the humane society.

Adoption fees will be $30 for cats 6 months to 7 years old, $15 for cats 7 and older, and $50 for kittens 6 months and younger.

The fees cover vaccines, deworming, spaying and neutering, a feline leukemia test plus a microchip. Those who adopt over the weekend also will receive a gift bag with cat toys and treats, said Angela Rhodes, executive director.

Animal lovers also will be able to get their pick of the litter during this special adoption event.

“We’ll have 100 to 150 cats up for adoption in every age, size, shape and color, with claws or declawed, itty bitty kitties and a bonded pair,” Rhodes said.

The humane society took in 500 animals in June. Between 300 and 350 were cats.

Rhodes, who took over leadership of the humane society in March, didn’t know if that was a record, but she said longtime operations manager Jim Hurley was astounded.

Many cats are feral and can’t be placed, while others are sick and can’t be treated, she said.

“With cats, unfortunately, their intake numbers never match the number of adoptions. It’s just sad many wonderful cats can’t find homes,” Rhodes said.

Dog lovers won’t be left out of this weekend’s event.

“We plan to have some outside greeting people. So hope the weather is nice,’’ Rhodes said.

A big basket loaded with cat treats, toys and other items valued at $100 will be raffled. Tickets are $2 each, three for $5 or 10 for $10.

“We hope people will come out, get something sweet to eat and look around,” Rhodes said.

Visitors also will learn about new happenings at the society, she said, including:

-- A cat town, which is a new living community for up to eight cats with cuddle beds, cat-scratching trees, a sink to drink from and natural lighting.

-- Expanded hours that started Monday to better serve the community.

-- A revised health and medical protocol that includes more expanded and proactive testing of feline leukemia and heartworms plus vaccinations and booster shots for the animals.

-- Revamped cleaning protocols to keep the animals healthier during their stay.

-- Improved customer service so the public comes to think of the humane society as a resource and not the pound.

-- Revamped adoption policies and procedures so people do not have to fill out applications and wait days for approval.

“The most basic, bottom-line goal to everything we do,” Rhodes said, “is to help as many animals as possible by decreasing the number of euthanasia and increasing the number of adoptions, plus getting ourselves on better financial footing.’’

Medical Fund helps heal animals

Within 48 hours of each other, a dog and a cat at the Rock County Humane Society needed a leg amputated earlier this year.

The treatment cost a few thousand dollars, said Angela Rhodes, executive director.

The animals got the medical care they needed because of the humane society’s special Help Me, Heal Me Fund.

Previously, the fund was known as Kelli’s Fund. It was named for a puppy that was hit by a car and brought to the humane society and needed surgery on its pelvis.

Enough money was solicited to pay for the puppy’s care and set up a fund to help other animals. Over the years, the fund’s balance has been up and down but now is “pretty much depleted,” Rhodes said.

Donations are being sought once again for the fund.

Without the fund, the humane society wouldn’t have been able to take care of animals such as 12-year-old Nigel, a poodle that needed nearly $1,000 worth of dental work recently, Rhodes said.

The medical fund is strictly held and used for special cases that go above and beyond usual animal medical needs, Rhodes said.

“It’s nice for people who want to designate where their donor dollars go.’’

TO DONATE

Send contributions to the Help Me, Heal Me Fund in care of the Rock County Humane Society, 222 S. Arch St., Janesville, WI 53548.