Sixty-four kittens are winging their way to new homes, thanks to a partnership between McKamey Animal Center and ASPCA. The felines flew out of Chattanooga airport early this morning destined for adoptive homes in Massachusetts and beyond.
McKamey Animal Center operates a low-cost spay/neuter clinic that alters hundreds of animals each month and follows National Animal Control Association best practices regarding intake of community cats, which states that “indiscriminate pick-up or admission of healthy, free-roaming cats fails to
serve commonly held goals of community animal management and protection programs and, as such, is a misuse of time and public funds and should be avoided.” MAC also has a foster care program for orphaned and neonate kittens.
Nevertheless, there are always hundreds of animals in shelter care at any given time.
MAC is also scheduled to send approximately two dozen dogs out to ASPCA transport partners later in the week, via ground transport vehicles. Since MAC’s formal transport partnership with ASPCA began early this year, more than half a dozen transports have already taken place.
“Transport opportunities like this allow us to not only help save the lives of animals already in our care,” says Suzanne D’Alonzo, MAC director of animal care, “but open foster homes and cages for animals that will need help in the future. We are incredibly grateful to the ASPCA and its transport partners for providing us this lifesaving option, and for all of the foster families and volunteers who have helped make this transport possible.”
Even with this large number of animals leaving Chattanooga, the shelter expects those open cages and foster homes to refill quickly. “We encourage anyone who has room in their home and their heart to consider becoming a foster parent,” Ms. D’Alonzo says. “The very small commitment of time and effort that comes with fostering is more than repaid by the love you will receive in return, and the knowledge that you helped save that animal’s life.”
MAC foster parents provide continued care and support to kittens, puppies, cats and dogs. These animals may be too young to enter the shelter, need a quiet space to recover from life-saving medical treatment, need round-the-clock feedings/care, or just need a break from the shelter environment. To become a MAC foster parent, visit www.McKameyAnimalCenter.org or call 423-305-7140.