Humane Society braces for surge of abandoned pets

This mother cat and her kittens, rescued April 25, are the lucky ones. The Whatcom Humane Society is bracing for the annual spring influx of kittens. Getting whole litters of abandoned kittens is an all-toocommon occurrence for the society — particularly in spring, which is prime breeding season for cats.

More than 53 percent of the felines the society took in last year had to be euthanized due to age, health, temperament or the society’s space limitations, compared to 19 percent of dogs.

Executive Director Penny Cistaro said the society sees a huge disparity in the accountability of cat owners compared to dog owners. Of the 1,264 dogs the society sheltered last year, about 41 percent were redeemed by their owners. Of the 1,959 cats sheltered, only 3 percent were picked up by the owners.

The higher number of cats contributes to a higher euthanization rate for them compared to dogs.

“It’s about taking responsibility for your animals,” Cistaro said.

It might not have been Windon’s responsibility, but he’s taking on the cat family anyway.

When he found them, they were abandoned without even water or a blanket. Windon’s neighbor Darlene Syverson provided food for the cat.

The five abandoned felines, which have been in Windon’s care since, are now in good health, he said.

He plans to put the kittens up for adoption when they’re a little older but will keep the mother cat as a pet.

Syverson would like to find out who left the cat and kittens to likely die.

Abandoning or leaving any animal on a street, road or highway is considered a misdemeanor. Violators can be fined up to $500 and face up to 90 days in jail.

But Cistaro said it’s difficult for animal control officers to catch people who abandon pets.

“We get lucky if someone sees a license plate or something,” Cistaro said. “Unless we have a witness, there’s not much we can do.”

The solution, Cistaro says, is pet spaying or neutering. While getting a cat fixed can cost between $60 and $120, the Humane Society and the Alternative Humane Society offer vouchers and sliding-scale prices based on a pet owner’s income.

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