FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kerrie Leclair, Director of Development
, 207-985-3244 x123 or 207-899-8131
AWS Promotes Responsible Cat Ownership, Sterilization and Awareness
for Upcoming Kitten Season with Annual Event
Sponsored by Amica Insurance
WESTKENNEBUNK, ME – April 30, 2013 - No matter how much space the shelter has, no matter the health of the animal or the amount of money someone can give, the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) does not turn away any animal in need from its 21 contracted towns in York County. And this spring will be no different.
AWS expects more than 1,000 cats and kittens to arrive at their doors soon needing shelter in the spring months. “Kitten Season” is an annual occurrence when cats give birth, beginning in spring, peaking in late spring and ending in the fall.
"When the weather begins to warm up, cats go into heat. Their reproductive hormones are incredibly strong. Any intact cat [reproductive organs in place] that goes outside will get pregnant,” said Bobbi Allen, shelter co-manager. “Those that let their intact male cats outdoors are unknowingly contributing to the overpopulation problem, too.”
The easiest way to help reduce the overwhelming numbers of unwanted cats is to spay and neuter your own cat and encourage others to do the same. All cats and kittens adopted from the AWS are spayed and neutered. In addition, the Animal Welfare Society has just opened an in-house spay and neuter clinic to assist low-income cat owners with getting the surgery. Surgeries at the clinic are $45.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, a fertile cat may produce an average of three litters per year with an average of four to six kittens in each litter.By conservative estimates, one female cat and her offspring can produce more than 40,000 cats in just three years.
These unwanted cats and kittens, when not left on the street to fend for themselves, often turn up in high volume at the Animal Welfare Society for care, shelter and placement into permanent homes.
“Kitten season can be a tremendous drain on our resources. Many times, the newborns are in a critical state of health and need intensive medical care. Beyond that, there is the Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR) for orphaned kittens and litter,” said Kerrie Leclair, the shelter’s Director of Development. “All of it costs a lot of money and requires our community’s help.”
In response and preparation for the yearly “kitten season,” AWS will hold its 11th annual “Kitten Shower” to raise public awareness of the cat overpopulation problem in Southern Maine.
Each year, the Animal Welfare Society’s “Kitten Shower” generates much needed donations of supplies to help care for hundreds of anticipated new arrivals.Sponsored by Amica Insurance, responsible cat ownership, sterilization and awareness are central themes each year.
The Animal Welfare Society is urging local schools, cub scout and girl scout troops, church groups, bridge clubs, bowling leagues, business and any other groups to take the “Project Kitten Challenge” by collecting the largest amount (in total weight) of needed kitten supplies.Competing groups are asked to collect donations of Kitten Milk Replacement (KMR), dry and canned kitten food, cat litter and toys. Items can be delivered to AWS on Saturday, May 11th, between 12:00pm and 2:30pm.
The public is invited to visit AWS for the “Kitten Shower” on May 11th from 12:00 to 3:00pm, to bring individual donations and participate in educational and fun activities, learn more about fostering kittens, meet shelter staff and volunteers, and share the excitement of the official weigh-in ceremony.The winning group will be announced at 2:30 and will receive a prize, a feature in an upcoming AWS newsletter and will be on the AWS Web site.
In 2012, the Animal Welfare Society provided foster care and sheltering for more than 2,000homeless cats and kittens.
About The Animal Welfare Society
The Animal Welfare Society, a non-profit organization, exists to provide humane shelter and care to companion animals temporarily in need of housing, to assist in disaster response and to further the cause of responsible animal adoption and ownership through education and public awareness. The society actively promotes kindness, the elimination of cruelty and neglect to all animals, and the lifelong commitment of people to their pets. For more information please visit
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