Humane Society of Elmore County News – 2 Jun ‘25
Rea Cord
Executive Director
June is Adopt a Cat month for good reason as ‘kitten season” started full swing in May. This means we are going into June with 169 (121 kittens under six-months old and 48 cats over six-months old) already in the Shelter. Looking at the historical June intake for cats below, we know we are in for a long and challenging summer as these numbers will continue for the next two-three months before starting any significant decline.
MONTH OF JUNE CAT INTAKE 2024-2015
YEAR CAT KITTEN* TOTAL CATS
2024 59 134 193
2023 57 182 239
2022 59 193 252
2021 48 207 255
2020 49 183 232
2019 64 214 278
2018 71 236 307
2017 66 252 318
2016 68 204 272
2015 68 258 326
*under six-months old
These kittens come in as singles, small and large litters, moms with litters, sick kittens, feral kittens, just oh so many kittens. We are certainly grateful for our kitten fosters who help by taking on those too young to be in our Shelter.
The truly sad reality is that for every kitten surrendered to our shelter there are that many and more out in the community looking for homes. If you just take a quick look at social media, signs in yards, free kittens in parking lots, Vet Clinics, friends and acquaintances advertising kittens tells you that there are simply more kittens looking for homes than there are takers.
While our Shelter kittens are all spayed or neutered prior to leaving us when adopted, far too many of the hundreds of kittens being given away in the community will not be spayed/neutered in time to prevent their ‘oops’ litter and the vicious cycle of kittens with nowhere to go will only continue. Many wonderful families give homes to kittens and cats that show up on their property but if you want to be a part of the solution – make their spay or neuter (it takes two to tango) appointment immediately. Vets can attest at seeing pregnant five-month-old kittens so if you are going to keep the stray that shows up, and since you may not be able to get an immediate appointment, please make that appointment soonest to prevent yet another unnecessary litter.
While our kittens will be spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped prior to adoption ($50 adoption fee), if you do get a free kitten, please take it to your veterinarian immediately to get checked out and get its vaccinations started. Please also make (and keep) that appointment for the kitten’s spay or neuter no later than 5-6 months old so you don’t end up with a litter in need of a home in the fall.
And, of course, we are also taking in far too many dogs and puppies as well – puppies just tend to come all twelve months of the year. Getting that vaccination and subsequent spay/neuter appointment for your new puppy is just as vital – please do your part to prevent our very real pet overpopulation crisis.
Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs & $50 for cats under one-year-old; cats over one-year-old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough, free health exam with your participating veterinarian.
If you are interested in meeting any of our pets, our first step is our Adoption Application you can do here: https://elmorehumane.org/adoption-application-online… . Once approved, we will coordinate with you to set up an appointment to meet & adopt.
We are located at 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka, AL, 36092, our phone number is 334-567-3377 and our website is www.elmorehumane.org for more information.
