It’s peak kitten season, which means humane societies across the province are hosting the Empty Our Shelters event. It gives discounts on cat and dog adoptions.
Running from Thursday through Sunday, adoption fees for kittens are $75, while fees for adult cats are $25 and dogs are $149.
Adoptions at the Regina Humane Society during the period include a complimentary spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, a tattoo, a microchip and a veterinary exam.
Lisa Koch, executive director of the Regina Humane Society, said the event is important to manage animal populations.
“It’s really important that we manage our populations accordingly,” said Koch, who added this is the third annual adoption event.
“This is a way to relieve pressure by offering people the wonderful opportunity to bring a family pet into their home.”
For Nicole Ford, the opportunity was too good to pass up.
“We just moved into a new house at the end of July,” said Ford, who adopted a grey-and-white kitten named Perry. “I was always promised we could get a cat when we moved in, so here we are getting a cat.”
“We’ve just always liked grey-and-white kittens,” added Ford with a laugh. “He was really affectionate (and) when he met my son, he didn’t put claws out or anything like that.”
Koch said Thursday morning alone saw 10 adoptions, and around 43 kittens are arriving back at the shelter from foster care.
A lot of kittens, which are either born at the shelter or arrive at a very young age, are put into foster homes until they are a certain age.
Given that the summer is peak season for kittens to be born, Koch said the event provides a good opportunity to lessen the society’s population.
Since kittens are in such high supply, Koch said there are very few dogs available.
Other humane societies, like those in Saskatoon, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and Prince Albert, are hosting similar events.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of the story, reflecting the correct price for adoption fees for cats.