A local animal shelter is asking for the public’s help in caring for cats recently rescued outside an abandoned Hazel Dell house.
Nine cats of varying ages left outside a house on Northwest 29th Avenue have arrived at the Humane Society for Southwest Washington since Thursday, officials said. There are believed to be between 6 and 15 more cats missing.
The animal shelter lacks the space to care for the cats long-term, officials said, and is looking for people who can either adopt or become “foster parents” for the cats.
“We just simply don’t have room for them,” said Erin Griffin, spokeswoman for the Humane Society.
As of Friday, the shelter had 280 cats at its location, 1100 N.E. 192nd Ave., Vancouver, and 132 more in foster care.
Most of the cats rescued from Southwest 29th Avenue have an upper respiratory illness that caused swollen eyes and sneezing, Griffin said.
A veterinarian will inspect the felines. Respiratory ailments are not uncommon when cats are grouped together in large numbers, Griffin said.
You can visit the Humane Society Saturday and fill out paperwork to adopt the cats or serve as their foster parent, in which case food, surgeries, vaccinations and medications can be provided.
The cats rescued from Hazel Dell won’t be eligible for adoption until after they are evaluated Monday.
“We want to get the cats out as soon as possible,” Griffin said.
Adopting adult cats, ages 6 months and older, costs $10 between now and the end of June. Adopting kittens rescued from Southwest 29th Avenue costs between $30 and $80, Griffin said. Generally, kitten adoptions cost $80.
“Kitten season,” from May through September, is upon us, Griffin said, and raises the need to have cats spayed or neutered.
Clark County has an overpopulation problem with cats, Griffin said, because not enough of them are fixed.
