City of Bloomington Celebrates Adopt A Shelter Cat Month

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

For more information, contact:
Laurie Ringquist, Director, Animal Care and Control, City of Bloomington, 349-3870
Daniel Lopez, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-CITY, lopezd@bloomington.in.gov

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Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter will celebrate June as Adopt A Shelter Cat Month by offering a special two-for-one cat adoption fee. In addition to the two-for-one adoption fee, adopters will receive a free bag of cat supplies, including food, a bowl and a toy.

The two-for-one adoption fee will continue through the month of July in order to encourage adoptions during the months that the shelter experiences the highest intake of cats and kittens. The shelter took in 317 cats in June 2007 and another 310 in July of last year.

"During the summer months, the number of cats and kittens who need a loving home rises significantly," Kruzan said. "We want to offer people incentives to adopt, an act of kindness so important to our community in so many ways. We encourage residents to stop by the Animal Shelter today and consider making an adoption."

The goal of the promotion is to raise awareness about the cats and kittens available for adoption at the shelter and how the companionship of a cat can bring many years of love and devotion. Most cats enjoy the company of another cat. Kittens especially enjoy having a playmate. The shelter has cats and kittens of all ages, sizes and colors available for adoption, including some that are declawed.

"This promotion is always popular and we find it to be successful in increasing the number of adoptions for our cats and kittens," said Laurie Ringquist, Director of the Animal Care & Control Division.

Last year during the same promotion, 113 cats were adopted in June and another 97 were adopted in July. The shelter averages 72 cat adoptions per month.

Regular adoption fees are $75 for a cat under age five and $55 for a cat five years and older. Included in the fee is spaying or neutering, vaccinations, micro-chipping and testing for feline leukemia and FIV.

The public can visit adoptable animals at the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter located at 3410 South Walnut. The shelter is open to the public Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from noon until 7 p.m.

Adoptable animals also can be seen on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon at the Farmers' Market and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 122 E. Kirkwood Avenue. They can also be viewed online at [www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter|http://bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter].

For more information about adoptable animals call 349-3492.

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