Heartland Humane Society: Cat Chow Building Better Lives Grant Report

How did this grant help your organization and the pets in your care?

This grant is currently being used for subsidized cat adoptions through our Seniors for Seniors adoption program. Cats are offered to senior people (aged 60+) with a waived adoption fee.

This grant has helped place adult and senior cats (which generally have the longest length of stay) in appropriate homes which has, in turn, helped to ease shelter density. Adult and senior cats finding placement more quickly helps them to avoid increasing stress and exposure to pathogens that accompanies a longer shelter stay.

How many pets did this grant help?

This grant subsidizes 20 cat adoptions. We have had 14 senior cat adoptions so far this year.

Please provide a story of one or more specific pets this grant helped.

Hey Girl! is a spayed female tuxedo cat who was found in Luckiamute State Park in Albany, OR, and brought to the shelter by our county Animal Control Officer. The officer confirmed she was abandoned there, so shelter staff treated her parasites and caught her up on vaccinations and made her available for adoption. Steven Baggerly, of nearby Alsea, OR, saw Hey Girl! on our website and came in to meet her and take a look at all of our cats. He went from room to room, meeting the available cats, but when he took Hey Girl! out, it was love at first sight!

Upon inquiring about adopting her, Steven was pleasantly surprised to find that he could take her home for free through our Cat Chow Building Better Lives Seniors for Seniors program. He was so smitten with his new kitten that he allowed us to take a photo before taking her home.