BY AMY BALTODANO
Hays Post
Humane Society of the High Plains Manager Betty Hansen says summer is the perfect time to adopt dogs or cat, but June is even better because it is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month.
“June is a great time because school’s out so if you want a new pet, it’s a good time,” Hansen said. “Kids are generally home more, able to spend more time with a new kitten or cat.”
This month, the feline fees are lower with one cat for $15 or two cats for $25, plus $50 top spay or neuter.
June is also month where the shelter is generally full — and it’s full to the brim currently.
“Generally we probably have around 13-15, that’s generally what we hold. We do try to keep our numbers low because if we get too many, we start seeing problems,” Hansen said. “We could probably hold more, but for the benefit and health of the rest of them, it’s usually not a good idea. So we like to keep it 15 and under.”
Hansen suggests coming to the shelter, 2050 E. Old U.S. 40, for a visit to see what they have available and to ask questions.
Eagle, Neb., resident, Beth Lohmeyer agrees the shelter goes above and beyond to help out with any questions you may have. Lohmeyer enjoys taking her three grand-daughters as often as she can.
“They welcome the kids to come out and encourage the girls. You know that when the time comes, they will come here,” said Lohmeyer.
One thing to keep in mind is that pet ownership is different for everybody.
“It depends on the family you have,” Hansen said. “If you have babies or toddlers, then maybe a kitten is not good, because they scratch. If you are a senior, you probably would want an older cat.
“The nice thing about cats if landlord allows it, they are very low maintenance. They know how to take care of themselves. They like to see you every so often, not constantly. They kind of have a mind of their own,” she added.
Prospective pet owners are given a two-week trial period with their chosen pet.
“We have too many needing homes. We do try to make sure they are in good health when they are adopted. We can’t cover everything. They do have their shots when they come in. Overall, our hope is that you get a good healthy pet,” Hansen said. “Plus, all the cats that are available here are litterbox trained.”
The shelter has a new website — hshponline.org — that features photos of the pets housed there.
Hansen also said the shelter receives many calls about missing dogs, but not as many regarding missing cats. People might wait up to a couple weeks to see if the missing feline will return.
“If you have lost the cat, make sure you give us a call,” Hansen said. “We are the holding facility for animal control. A lot of people assume that if their cat is gone, it’s just gone. We do get a lot of them in here. If your cat isn’t home in 24 to 48 hours, when it is normally home, call.”
For more information, call (785) 625-5252.