Melfort library helping cats find furever homes

“I think it’s a great opportunity for our animals to get out of the shelter, as well as get some human contact. For them to be around young children, which we don’t see too often at the shelter, is great for them to get used to different aged people that could see in a home.”

“If the opportunity arises that I get an (adoption) application for one of the cats being here, that’s wonderful. Right now we’re at like 50 cats, so whatever I can do to get them out in the community for people to see and meet is good.”

Baptist also spoke to the importance of community support that they get and to the fact that without it, they wouldn’t have a thing.

“Community support is huge, if we don’t have your community then what do we really have,” she said. “The more people that support us the better. This really gets the word out. The applications that we get are sometimes from communities like Melfort, but there’s a lot of times that they’re from places like Saskatoon or Manitoba, all over. This is a great thing and it just gets our name out there.”

Baptist was also quick to point out the possibilities of an event like this and what it could lead to in the future based on the people that might be there.

“There could be someone there that has ideas on other things we could do in the community, so that helps immensely. Right now, we have a few volunteers, so way more volunteers would obviously be better for us, as we have lots of animals in the shelter,” she said.

“I think this is a good thing and I want us to be out there more, showcasing our animals or getting help with fundraisers. I’m hoping it brings more people to the shelter. I also really hope this continues because I know it’s great for our community and maybe something else will come of it.”

Book Buddies (Submitted photo/Melfort Public Library)

As to why she thinks they have so many cats currently, she said that many people got pets at the beginning of the pandemic, but now that a lot of people have returned to work, they may just not have time for their furry friends anymore.

“I think that everyone was home and had time for animals and then the COVID (lockdown) kind of ended and everyone had to go back to work and then people were phoning to surrender. I think the majority of the cats we get here, however, are the strays that are picked up and brought to us by animal control,” said Baptist.

Unfortunately, due to the high number of cats they currently have and the small amount of space, the ones picked up by animal control are the only ones that they are able to take.

“If animal control brings me an animal from town, I have to take it, same with the other communities that support us. I am, however, saying no to the communities that don’t support us just because I don’t have any room and the little room that I do have, I have to keep for our pound cats. Right now, I’d say we’re on a freeze,” said Baptist.

The communities that currently support the NESPCA and their efforts are Melfort, Nipawin, Beaty, Kinistino, Naicam, Arborfield, Willow Creek, and Star City, who is in the midst of signing up and is currently just waiting on the paperwork to be finalized.

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter @BenTompkins_8

by Ben Tompkins

Melfort library helping cats find furever homes

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