Isabella County animal shelter seeing influx of felines

There are three cats for every dog received at the Isabella County Animal Shelter.

“Given the economy, people aren’t adopting at high rates,” said Humane Animal Treatment Society Director Lee Fabiano. “It’s a struggle every year.”

The shelter, at 1105 S. Isabella Road, is full with 170 cats in its care.

“There are at least 70 cats in the shelter with about 100 more in the quarantine building,” said HATS Student Chapter President and Troy senior Megan Smith.

The cats have caused extra work for the shelter’s volunteers, Fabiano said.

Bond, a nine month old cat, is available for adoption at the Isabella County Animal Shelter, 1105 S. Isabella Road. The shelter projects three cats are arriving to every one dog. (Ashley Miller/Photo Editor)

In dealing with the number of animals, many kittens are sent out to foster care until they are ready to be spayed or neutered and adopted, she said.

A small market

One major reason for the high number of cats is owners not being able to afford to keep them.

“In owner release, for whatever reason, they say they can’t keep the cat. We try to find the problem and we encourage them to keep the cat and they often do,” Fabiano said. “We try to give as much assistance as possible.”

A lack of spaying and neutering is another reason for the high number of cats, said HATS Manager Emma Goodrich.

Part of the assistance HATS offers includes spayed/neutered vouchers to the owners, Fabiano said. All veterinary clinics in Isabella County honor the voucher, and HATS pays a portion of the costs.

“The owners can pickup information sheet at the shelter or veterinary and they send to HATS, and HATS sends out the certificate to owner,” Fabiano said. “For cats, we pay $20 for males and $30 for females and, for dogs, we pay $30 to neuter and $40 to spay dogs to assist people.”

Although there is not a maximum number they can hold, she said HATS does have to euthanize some of the cats.

“We are not a no-kill shelter,” Fabiano said. “It’s not pleasant. We have to practice euthanasia.”

HATS received about 3,300 animals at the shelter in the past year. When animals are turned over to the shelter, adoption rates stay higher than other shelters in mid-Michigan.

“Overall adoptions rate is about 43 percent – just dogs, probably 60 to 65 percent,” Fabiano said. “For a county shelter, it’s excellent. Midland County is at 13 percent.”