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3 Baltimore Shelters Waive Adoption Fees For Cats

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Jun 14, 2009 3:09 pm US/Eastern

3 Baltimore Shelters Waive Adoption Fees For Cats

Learn More About The Baltimore 500

Reporting
Tim Williams
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― We've all heard of the dog days of summer, but there are also designated cat days as well.  Now is the time animal shelters see an abundance of cats and kittens and they're offering an incentive for you to adopt.  Tim Williams has more on the Baltimore 500.

The Baltimore 500 is a month-long push to get cats and kittens adopted.  The target: more than 500 adoptions by the end of the month.

"June really is a tough time for animal shelters.  Lots of cats and kittens end up homeless," said Maryland SPCA Executive Director Aileen Gabbey.  "We've set a goal of 500 adoptions of cats and kittens in the month of June.  This is very ambitious; last year, we did 353."

So this collaborative effort involves members of the Baltimore Animal Welfare Alliance.  They include the Maryland SPCA, Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) and the Baltimore Humane Society.  They joined forces to put a dent in a booming population.

The Maryland SPCA says the economy tends to drive adoptions; numbers go down when times get tough, so they've waived the fees for any cat and kitten adoptions throuhg the month of June.

"The Baltimore shelters are doing free cat and kitten adoptions to encourage people to give a homeless cat a home," Gabbey said.  "Some local vets are even giving away free exams."

Eyewitness News helped launch the initiative.  Even our Friday Puppies are wearing cat ears, hoping to help get their feline friends adopted, but shelters stress one more thing.

"We also want people to spay and neuter their cats, something else these shelters can help with," Gabbey said.

But the animal you adopt will already have had that procedure done.

For more information on the Baltimore 500, click here.

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