Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Society (TMARS) needs your help.
The Elk Valley local animal rescue group currently have 12 kittens to vet and adopt out, and just as many cats.
Co-founder of TMARS, Nycki Wannamaker said that the number of adoptions in the Elk Valley had slowed down “a lot” in line with a provincial slowdown noted by the BCSPCA.
READ MORE: BC SPCA sees ‘abrupt slowdown’ in adoptions after 2 years of spike from pandemic pets
“Its definitely slowed,” she said.
“Last year we had waiting lists on kittens, this year we have kittens waiting for homes.”
TMARS was established during the pandemic, and adopted out 30 cats during the 2021 ‘kitten season’, which is the time of year cats have kittens and groups like TMARS get swamped with homeless animals.
Wannamaker said the drop in adoptions wasn’t just the pandemic wearing off, but that there were only so many homes that pets in need could go to. While the number of adopters had slowed, the number of animals coming into TMARS’ care had not.
“Just yesterday we had nine born,” said Wannamaker. They’re in the care of TMARS, and all will be spayed, microchipped and vaccinated before they get adopted out – a cost of over $300 per cat, and they get adopted out for $100.
To help out TMARS you can become a foster, adopt an animal, or contribute financially. Details on how can be found here.
Wannamaker said they had a strong need for fosters at the moment – fostering can be rewarding, but there are many variables in looking after animals through TMARS – like how much medical care an animal needs, whether they need a safe place to recover, or get used to humans and other animals. Currently, TMARS need fosters that can be patient to tame feral or wild pets, as well as regular fosters willing and able to step up in times of need.
“Fostering is super rewarding because it costs you nothing, you don’t have to commit or pay vet bills or buy supplies. You get the joys of owning a pet for a little while.
“You’re saving a life.”
READ MORE: Twin Meadows hold 2nd Easter raffle to raise funds ahead of ‘kitten season’
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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