CATS NEED FAMILIES! CORNELIUS ANIMAL SHELTER SUCCCESSFULLY ADOPTS OUT CANINES, STILL HAS PLENTY OF FELINES FOR ADOPTION

CORNELIUS -- The Cornelius Animal Shelter has had a high adoption success rate so far this year. “Currently, we have no dogs being housed in our facility. The cats this year, however, have been high in numbers. Although we have sent many cats to good homes, our cat facility is still maxed out,” said Bruce Forrest, director of development and volunteer services for the shelter.

It is important to spay and neuter your animals, as it is a preventable cause to this ongoing problem. Thousands of local dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are euthanized each year simply because of overpopulation. In fact, felines reproduction rate is so rapid, that one unsprayed cat and her kittens will produce 420,000 cats in about 7 years. It’s easy to see why this is so important to your animals, and why there are so many up for adoption. If you are interested in adopting, you can visit www.CorneliusAnimalShelter.com to view the animals currently available.

For those who currently own pets that have not been “fixed,” Mecklenburg county residents’ cats and dogs are eligible for free spay and neuter services through Charlotte-Mecklenburg Animal Care and Control. Clinics are offered the 2nd Saturday of each month. Appointments are required and can be made by calling (704) 336-4424. It is important to make your appointment as soon as possible, as wait time can be up to 120 days.

The Humane Society of Charlotte also offers low cost spay and neuter services. Depending on the animal, prices range from $30 - $50. Advance appointments are required and can be made by calling (704) 333-4130 or by logging onto www.humanesocietyofcharlotte.org.

In community outreach and education efforts, the Cornelius Animal Shelter is focusing on spreading the word of how important it is to spay and neuter. As part of their fundraising, the shelter is selling bumper stickers promoting the importance of sterilizing your pet. Bumper stickers sell for $5 and can be purchased at the front desk of the Cornelius Town Hall, located on Catawba Avenue. Checks can be made out to the Town of Cornelius with “animal shelter fund” written in the memo line, and as always, cash is accepted.